February 5th - 8th (pictures included)

Much of the first day all together on the ship (February 5th) was given over to “rules and regulations” review, at port sail training (particularly important for the new comers before we go to sea on the 8th), and food provisioning. The latter had us all form a line from the delivery truck out on the street through the alley way to the Concordia, onto the ship and down below decks to the various storage places. As our first voyage is a two week sail to Montevideo, Uruguay and there are more than 60 of us to feed (48 students, 8 teachers counting the student shipboard director, and the 8 member pro crew (captain, first and second mate, two engineers, bosun, ship’s doctor and cook), there was a lot to bring aboard.

During port stays, planned excursions involving all the students and teachers are part of the educational program. On the 6th - yesterday as I write this - we had a bus ride to several points of interest, including an historic church (the second oldest in Brazil)and village, a manitoo acquatic centre, a beach for some swimming, and, close at hand, a martial arts/dance demonstration. I have to (sheepishly) confess that the beach interlude was my favourite - it is high summer here and their Carnival time. So as one floated about (with lots of sun block on, and a hat, and while Claudia was cross country skiing/snow shoeing back home), pleasure craft and rafts with costumed trumpet players, or just “canned” Brazilian carnival music were trolling by just off shore, making for a festive and memorable Atlantic dip!

Today will involve more sail training and the practice of emergency procedures. Teachers have specific duties in this context. For example, I am responsible for the working of one of the pullied lines controlling the launch of the mid-ship rescue launch (there are two - the other at the stern; there are life rafts too, of course). Captain Bill is a patient and effective teacher in his own right and I learned much about the whys and wherefores of the zodiac launch I hadn’t appreciated during my first Concordia tour. It helps that Bill is a New England English speaker. The last time most of the crew were Polish. (The first mate on our journey this time is from Lunenburg, the second mate Australian, the engineers Polish - I know them from before, the bosun Canadian, the ship doctor an Alaskan and the cook is from the Boston area.) Tomorrow we leave port after lunch. This will be a relief in some respects because we can then get our classes started. (While at sea I teach my three courses each day.) And a more predictable routine will emerge. And there will be some seasickness!

Maurice/Tug/Papa