Sunday 13 January

At 1200, EST the Training Ship Empire State was located at 39 degrees and 42 minutes North Latitude and 070 degrees 21 minutes West Longitude, due east of Atlantic City, New Jersey. She was on a course of 236 degrees true traveling at a speed of 9.2 knots enroute to the United States Naval Base Norfolk, VA. The weather was miserable. The sky was cloudy, air temperature had risen to 52 degrees Fahrenheit, Winds were from the west-northwest at 45-50 knots, with highest gusts to 70 mph. Seas were very rough, building in excess of 20 feet, the sea injection temperature had risen to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Depth of water beneath the keel was 1300 fathoms.

CAPTAIN'S LOG

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures." William Shakespeare - The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

DEPARTURE REPORT: BUZZARDS BAY

Date: 8:16:12 PM 12 JAN 2002 1451 LAST LINE aboard; 1550 CLEAR CANAL; 1600-1900 COMPASS ADJUSTMENTS in Cape Cod Bay; Fuel Oil aboard-13734 BBL; H2O-1116 TONS; GM 7.42 FT; POB- 495 cadets/94 officers and crew; 2000 PILOT AWAY; 2006 DEPARTURE CC BOUY

CAPTAIN'S NOTES: It looks too easy. But think of the countless man-hours put into getting a ship out of cold lay-up. Then, just five days later, bring aboard 495 cadets. Unbelievable. A serious "thanks" goes to "rookie" Chief Engineer Bill Laffan (MMA '70). His 31 years of seagoing engineering really shined through. He and his cadre of engineers came together as a team to start, fix, repair, weld and steam every system on this ship. My personal thanks go out also to:

- Tom Bardwell, of Bardwell Electronics,who brought our radars and radios to life,

- Ed Krucunas of ABS for his fast survey of our repair items,

- the whole staff at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office including LCDR Jim McLaughlin and LT Joel Roberts for their time and expertise,

- the US Army Corps of Engineers for keeping everyone informed about our mooring. Finally, I want to thank the officials at New York Maritime College for the gracious loan of their ship, once again. Not only their ship, but some great staff too, like Chris, Matt(s), Bill and Angel - thanks for helping us out!

We are on our way to Norfolk, VA to have a crane installed aft as a favor to SUNY Maritime. (It won't be a liberty port, we'll make believe we are still at sea so training and watches will continue.) Between us and that port, however, lies a pretty deep low-pressure area. Guess the Youngies will get their sea legs early this trip!

To the inexperienced, the first day at sea is somewhat akin to winning a long, arduous race but in reality, getting here is but the end of the first lap. That will become very apparent at daylight tomorrow as the serious business of Sea Term begins. However, today we will relax somewhat,(weather permitting) and enjoy the sweet fruits of past labor.

Shortly after departing Cape Cod Bay, we set the first real "at sea" watch (the 20-24)and the entire ship breathed a sigh of relief. We were actually at sea, sailing southwest in the legendary North Atlantic Ocean, the last vestiges of land vanishing in the rear view mirror. Despite the biting wind, the bow was crowded with excited, nervous, young men and women. Some stared wistfully homeward but most were glued to the horizon and their thoughts were of the incredibly exciting unknown that lay beyond. What a concept!

Let me share with you the deeply philosophical musings of a few cadets:

"Mom and Dad, Chief Swayze has your keys." Love Gerard.

"Mom and Dad I wanted to wave, but I couldn't. Love you." LOLLI

"I'm Popeye." 4/C PATTEN

"I wonder if I can get through cruise without doing any laundry. Be back soon. Mom, It is not the size of the wave, it is the motion of the ocean." 1/C JACOBSON

"Dad, pet the dog for me. I love you guys & miss you. See you in Florida, Mimi." 2/C DERITO

"This is awesome." 4/C REMES

"Are we there yet." 4/C HUSSELBEE

"Going to see the world." 4/C KIRWIN

"Cut the umbilical cord and get underway." ANON

"Although it is sad to part with our families, we are going to a better place - HOT & SUNNY." 3/C RUIZ

"I love my family and I am already having fun." 4/C PETERSON

"Let's get down to business." 1/C OWENS

"Mom, I swear that I won't drink the Tequila with the worm." 4/C O'CONNELL

"The next chapter of a new and poignant learning endeavor." 4/C HORTON

"Choose to chance the rapids, Dare to dance the tides" - Garth Brooks. McCARTHY-BERCURY

"Don't worry too much about me in Mexico. Love you mom and dad." 4/C DITULLIO

"Mom and Dad, be back in a bit. Love ya's." 4/C DiRUSSO

"I will think of you in the Caribbean." 4/C LUNN

"Already miss you." 4/C COTTI

"I love you Mom and Dad." 1/C WALSH

"Te Quiero Mama." 1/C CONSTABLE

We were having a wonderful time but that was yesterday... and yesterday's gone! We have begun to pay for the wonderful weather of the past weeks and the forecast is not promising. Many will test for sea legs sooner rather than later as a deeping trench of low pressure hammers the experienced and inexperienced alike. My prediction for a fast moving coastal storm was accurate. However, we changed the report from a "gale" to "developing hurricane" earlier this morning. We watched in astonishment as the barometric pressure plunged from 1002 millibars at 0600 to 978 millibars at 1000. Winds rapidly escalated from force 4 (16 knots)to force 9 (47 knots) and the seas grew from moderate to very rough, in excess of 20 feet. Needless to say, our stowage plan was put to the acid test and any item not securely fastened took flight. Queasiness is the rule of the day and even the old salts are holding on for dear life. I say again.. nothing like the real world to build a team of professionals. Well, I hate to write and run but I am now chasing my equipment across my stateroom. See you tomorrow... from a calmer place.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY, MONDAY 14 JANUARY

MATH: The temperature was 39 degrees Fahrenheit as TS Empire State departed. If you were telling a friend who lives in Europe about the weather he would want to know the temperature in degrees centigrade. Convert 39 degrees F to degrees Celsius.

SCIENCE: The world's oceans travel in well-defined circular patterns, which flow like rivers. What are these patterns called?

GEOGRAPHY: Cape Cod is a hook shaped body of land bound to the north by Cape Cod Bay, and to the east and south by the Atlantic Ocean. What do we call such a projection of land?

HISTORY: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader of the Civil Rights Movement. When was he born? On what date was he assassinated?