At 0800 Atlantic Standard Time, 0700 Eastern Standard Time, and 1200Z, the Training Ship Empire State was moored at Admiral Byron Wharf, in Willemstad, Curacao, taking various services from the pier. The weather: air temperature was 78 degrees and water temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit, skies were mostly clear; winds were from the East at 08 knots; barometric pressure was 1016 millibars. Relative humidity was 83%.

CAPTAIN'S LOG

First, permit me to refresh the schedule. Remember, our planned visit to Limon, Costa Rica is cancelled. We will depart Curacao on Tuesday, 30 January at 0800 and proceed to St. Thomas and arrive on Friday, 02 February, remain at anchor 03 and 04 February, and transit to South West Passage, New Orleans. Arrival in New Orleans on 10 February should occur as scheduled. Check the MMA web site for the latest... I will keep you informed.

There is no such thing as bad weather in Curacao...Only different kinds of good weather in which to test our turbo generator. Believe me, a hurricane could not dampen the efforts.

Even the hilarious commercials, interrupted infrequently by a football game, were no match the heavy weight "Roto-'Restling" that we staged in our hot and humid, engine room venue. It was standing room only as the all-powerful and notorious "TURBO the Terrible" battled our own "TECHMAN the Tenacious" throughout the afternoon.

The contest began mid-morning when "Turbo" the colossal heavy weight, made an imposing entrance on the pier. He came astride a fire breathing, smoke belching, diesel powered, semi tractor-trailer rig that rumbled down the quay and bounced to a screeching stop directly before our brow. Snake-killing hisses, and thunderous boos, erupted throughout the ship as the hideous villain sneered and defiantly parted the heavy steel straps and grips that restrained him. Fear struck the heart of Empire State's own "Techman" and he was overwhelmed by the alarming sight of Turbo, brandishing the petrifying "Inertial Force" and wielding row, upon row of flashing, razor sharp blades.

The situation was critical when the redoubtable "Dockster of Curacao" rushed in. Together, Techman and Dockster heaved a thick nylon strap about Turbo's massive midsection. Then, "Rigger the Ropeman" leaped into the fray and quickly secured Turbo, hand and heel. With assistance from an overwrought fan, the quartet hauled Turbo into the air and dragged him into the Engine room. After a short but furious fight, Techman and Dockster threw Turbo into the casing where "Torquester" applied unrelenting pressure until Turbo was bolted and pinned for the count. The audience went wild as Turbo yelled "uncle". The victory required the efforts of Techman, the Dockster, scores of team members, and cheering fans around the world but persistence won out and they proved victorious. Turbo was tamed and the Inertial force diminished.

We fed Turbo a nutritional meal of piping hot steam and he spins contently, this morning. Turbo will remain under scrutiny for the next ninety days, but I feel certain that we have harnessed the force and have it working for good. Therefore, we take in all lines and head north, at 0800 Tuesday, 30 January. Now, who says that we can't compete with the Super Bowl?

Despite the serious work described above, we had fun on Super Bowl Sunday. The day began with a cookout at high noon replete with music, sun bathing, and traditional hotdogs and hamburgers. After eating our fill the first of many times, we were off to the monomoy rowing races.

The Race Committee "arbitrarily" established the elimination sets, with only a wee bit of seeding as four cadet entries seemed pitted against the lone officer boat.

Two boats, under command of seniors, were first to race with the Cadet Chief Mate and Coxswain Justin Phillips pitted against another Deckie, 1/C T.C. Lyons. The respective crews were made up of all classes, but the Lyons boat held a decided edge on the "beef" side of the tape. The race was classic, brains against brawn, so no surprise; the Lyons' boat took an immediate lead. The Phillips boat rowed steady and true, while the Lyons' boat made mistakes, slipped an oar here, caught a tip there, and the victory when to Phillips.

The second race placed a boatload of senior engineers against a monomoy crewed by inexperienced freshman. The freshman Coxswain, 4/C Trevor Pacheco, was masterful, took the lead early, and never looked back; thereby, leaving the senior Coxswain 1/C Jonathan Williamson and his "snipes", to lick their wounds.

Race three saw the Phillips crew rowing against Pacheco and his freshman. The race was close, with the boats running neck and neck for more than half the race. However, the freshman tired and fell off the pace. Coxswain Pacheco rallied his troops near the finish and very nearly saved the day, but it was not to be.

Then came the true showdown: Cadets against Officers. The winning Cadet boat, lead by the Cadet Chief Mate, took on the "boat full of beef" as they raced for the Super Bowl Rowing Championship and bragging rites forever.

LT Luke Catarius led four engineers and four deck officers to the line where he launched vociferous protests about anything within a nautical mile. The Race Committee in similar strident fashion, dismissed the protests as groundless weaseling and ordered the race to start. The racers were off and the definitive results foretold the events to come. The Cadets shot away, all oars pulling in unison, as the hapless officer's floundered and failed in the wake.

Post race analysis clearly established the reasons for the worst loss in monomoy racing history as poor leadership, and love of confusion. The commentator also remarked that the officer's might consider canoeing at a summer camp as a way to improve. I understand that Lt Catarius, Chief Mate Peter Weiss, and Mates Steve Roderick, James Quinn, and Craig Dalton have appropriate reservations at Camp Row-Be-Gone. The Engineers, Pat Lancaster, Mark Stevenson, Ken Kusano, and Gene Murphy roared in unison, we don't do row boats nor blow boats, and stomped off into the engineroom.

The wining crew of 1/C Cadets Justin Phillips, Luis Tappia, Joe Reisinger, Travis Fuller, Ryan Lynch, Glenn Milliken, 2/C Erik Jacobson, 3/C Dan Carroll, and 4/C Steve Speckles said nothing, but agreed to comment after Sea Term Projects are graded.

Then we watched to the real Super Bowl. Thanks to a leased Satellite TV system, we saw the game like those in Tampa. We wired the Dish through our on board TV system and people at every location could watch. Big screen TV's were placed on deck and nearly everyone remained topside, eating, and cheering until late in the evening. As one might expect, after game comments were split along party lines. Nevertheless, there is agreement on one point: It was a great game for the Ravens and those rooting for the Giants though it was for the birds too.

Well folks, we have enjoyed our stay in beautiful, downtown Willemstad but, the fun is over and we must prepare, for tomorrow we sail. See you from points north.

QUESTIONS FOR TUESDAY 31 JANUARY

MATH:

The distance from Boston to Curacao is approximately 2200 nautical miles. The distance from Boston to Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) is approximately 47 nautical miles. Curacao is approximately how many times as far away from Boston as is MMA.

SCIENCE:

Curacao gets most of its drinking water from desalting plants. Name two processes that these plants commonly uses to produce the fresh water.

GEOGRAPHY:

The earth is made up of concentric spheres and each is named. Where would you find the Lithosphere?

HISTORY:

Curacao was a Spanish possession for many years. In what year did the Netherlands take possession of the Island?

ANSWERS FOR MONDAY 29 JANUARY

MATH:

460.11NAfl/1.77 = $259.95

576.11NAfl/1.77 = $325.49

$259.95 + $325.49 = $585.44 Cost in Willemstad USD

$585.44 - $549.99 = $35.44 Saved if he buys the items in Hyannis.

SCIENCE:

Slow drifting of the continents. Changes in the sun's energy output. Variations in the position of the earth relative to the sun.

GEOGRAPHY:

Coffee and Bananas.

HISTORY:

Curacao was first visited by the Spanish in 1499.