At Sea from Barbados to Dominica
We boarded the Sea Cloud II at 4pm in Deep Water Harbor of Bridgetown, Barbados. There was great expectation as we came into the dockyard by coach and suddenly caught sight of our ship. She rode majestically.
We arrived just before the rain. We were berthed alongside the Aventura, a floating hotel which carried some 4,000 guests. We knew at a glance how lucky we were.
Tom O’Brien gave a welcome and thorough introduction to the history of sailing on a hand-sailed full rigged ship at 6pm. The Lindblad staff then introduced themselves and spoke about their expertise. Cocktails and a buffet dinner followed.
We cast off at 9pm and were pulled from our berth by the tug Pelican II. As we passed the sea wall we motored into the blackness of the Caribbean. Although the sea had some chop, I was lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the ship.
The sun rose in a hazy grey sky at 6:40am. There was a fine mist blowing off the breaking white caps. We sailed slowly overnight. The sea was a slate grey and choppy, broken by the white suds of the breaking waves. We had a strong westerly breeze during the night.
The crew went to sail stations at 9am and Tom O’Brien gave an informative discussion of what exactly the crew was about as they climbed aloft setting the sails. As the wind caught the sails, the ship heeled over ever so slightly and sliced the sea. In fact, the sails acted to reduce the movement of the ship through the sea. Imagine sailing with a technology that first began millennia ago, doing it with no power other than that of nature, and moving a vessel of 117 meters (386’), which weighs almost 4,000 tons up to 11.5 knots.
The sea was choppy and there was a breeze. We had our lifeboat drill and had a chance to hear the officers professionally explain procedures to take in case of emergency. It is a comforting feeling to know that we are in the hands of such competent sailors.
Tom Heffernan gave a talk on the “Magic of the Caribbean Languages: their Evolution from Aboriginal, Indo-European and African Languages” on the Lido deck at 3pm and later in the afternoon we watched the sailors furl the sails for the evening.
Tonight, Captain Pfenniger formally introduced his officers and we celebrated the Captain’s Dinner, a tradition dating back to the 17th century, if not earlier. What a wonderful day! We sailed with but little sound, just that of the wind in the rigging. Tomorrow, Dominica.
We boarded the Sea Cloud II at 4pm in Deep Water Harbor of Bridgetown, Barbados. There was great expectation as we came into the dockyard by coach and suddenly caught sight of our ship. She rode majestically.
We arrived just before the rain. We were berthed alongside the Aventura, a floating hotel which carried some 4,000 guests. We knew at a glance how lucky we were.
Tom O’Brien gave a welcome and thorough introduction to the history of sailing on a hand-sailed full rigged ship at 6pm. The Lindblad staff then introduced themselves and spoke about their expertise. Cocktails and a buffet dinner followed.
We cast off at 9pm and were pulled from our berth by the tug Pelican II. As we passed the sea wall we motored into the blackness of the Caribbean. Although the sea had some chop, I was lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the ship.
The sun rose in a hazy grey sky at 6:40am. There was a fine mist blowing off the breaking white caps. We sailed slowly overnight. The sea was a slate grey and choppy, broken by the white suds of the breaking waves. We had a strong westerly breeze during the night.
The crew went to sail stations at 9am and Tom O’Brien gave an informative discussion of what exactly the crew was about as they climbed aloft setting the sails. As the wind caught the sails, the ship heeled over ever so slightly and sliced the sea. In fact, the sails acted to reduce the movement of the ship through the sea. Imagine sailing with a technology that first began millennia ago, doing it with no power other than that of nature, and moving a vessel of 117 meters (386’), which weighs almost 4,000 tons up to 11.5 knots.
The sea was choppy and there was a breeze. We had our lifeboat drill and had a chance to hear the officers professionally explain procedures to take in case of emergency. It is a comforting feeling to know that we are in the hands of such competent sailors.
Tom Heffernan gave a talk on the “Magic of the Caribbean Languages: their Evolution from Aboriginal, Indo-European and African Languages” on the Lido deck at 3pm and later in the afternoon we watched the sailors furl the sails for the evening.
Tonight, Captain Pfenniger formally introduced his officers and we celebrated the Captain’s Dinner, a tradition dating back to the 17th century, if not earlier. What a wonderful day! We sailed with but little sound, just that of the wind in the rigging. Tomorrow, Dominica.
