Log #21 August 4, 2005, Oxnard, California

Sunny So-Cal they say. I am dubious, I have been here in Southern California for a week and I have only seen the sun once, in San Francisco Bay . By my reckoning they should call it Foggy So-Cal. Aside from the fog, the chill, and the almost complete lack of wind, the transit down to Oxnard from San Francisco aboard the Bill of Rights, was quite nice. I was on the 12-4 watch with MacGregor, the Scottish engineer on board; Nick, the bosun's mate; and Valerie, the purser. Everyone on the Bill is really good, but I was certainly excited to hear that these folks were on my watch. As when I was aboard the Lynx, the 12-4 watch served me well - the only real downfall being that every other watch is in complete darkness. Porpoises often joined us and played off the bow, having a good time. One night during my watch the porpoises came to play and the bioluminescence outlined them magnificently. While on lookout I could see the porpoises coming from a long way off and the bioluminescence showed an outline of where the animals were and where they had been, a lovely interlude in the middle of a foggy watch. On the last day of the transit the watch before mine claims they saw a score of whales and heaps of porpoises, I saw no signs of any such wildlife, but I'll take their word for it.

Before departing the San Francisco area we had to head over to Oakland to fuel up. We set a few sails and enjoyed the sunshine, which was to be the only sunshine we would see for the entire transit. We headed out under the Golden Gate Bridge, and in typical San Franciscan style we could really only see the lower half of it; soon we were out to sea and out of sight of land. What I love most about my sailing experience thus far is the massive amount of sleep I am able to get. For the first day and a half of the transit if I wasn't on watch or eating I was in bed sleeping.

Finally during this transit I felt like I am beginning to understand what is going on with the sailing aspect of it all. I know what it means when the Captain yells a bunch of gibberish about lines and sails and striking and whatnot, and for the most part I know what to do. Even if I didn't know what to do someone was ready and willing to tell me where to go and what to do. I find myself in a community of people passionate about what they do, and in my mind there is no better sort of community.

Christine, Marketing and Media Intern

Log #20, July 23, 2005 - Coos Bay, Oregon

Log #19 July 16, 2005, Port Alberni, British Columbia

Every time I have seen the Russian cadets in port they have seemed a bit stoic, even dour, but once you get to know them even a little that façade quickly falls by the wayside, all it really takes is a smile. Throughout my trip aboard the Pallada everyone was more than hospitable. On the first morning I was asked at least four times if everything was to my liking and if I needed anything I should just let that person know. The language barrier was no problem for anyone on board and several of the cadets and officers came up and talked to me without knowing a single word of English, often they would grab someone passing by that they knew spoke English to translate. A popular topic is always what sort of music I listen to. Alexander, the sail master, was very impressed that I know and love Russian composers like Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. Among the cadets hip hop and rap, both Russian and American, are very popular.

At one point in the afternoon I was on the bridge and I kept seeing this ball pop up into the air. Laura and I finally decided to investigate and discovered the Captain and several officers playing volleyball. They had rigged a net up midships to play volleyball. They managed to keep the ball on deck through superior sportsmanship; actually they wrapped the ball in tape, attached a string and tied it to part of the rigging so it wouldn't go overboard. We were of course immediately invited to play. I managed to make contact with the ball a few times, and be heartily glad of the string attached to the ball as many times before we headed belowdecks for our next adventure.

Laura and I were sailing more as passengers than as crew, so we didn't really do much actual work while we were aboard. At one point we did do a little to earn our keep, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. We met with most of the 150 Russian cadets in their classroom on board and gave a somewhat impromptu English lesson. All of the native English speakers on board, including two crew members from the Bill of Rights , members of the Canadian Coast Guard, an Australian, Laura, me and a few other assorted folks, got up in front of the class and told a little about themselves. After anyone under the age of about 30 introduced themselves the first question that came from the back of the room was if he or she was married, then whether or not a girlfriend or boyfriend was in the picture; it is important to get these sorts of things right out at the beginning. Laura and I introduced ourselves last and after we had told everyone a little bit about ourselves it was time for songs! Elena, the first mate aboard the Pallada , asked us to sing a song. With nothing coming directly to mind we were lucky that Nick, one of the crew from the Bill of Rights , knew one and stepped in. After Nick had taught the Russians his song they sang for us songs they already knew. First was “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” which I'm sure everyone remembers from grade school. The other song they sang for us was “I Just Called to Say I love You;” there is nothing quite like a room brimming with Russian cadets singing that song.

By this point I am sure you are all wondering how the food was, excellent. We had borscht before every meal except breakfast and the main course was always hearty, and very tasty. Served with every meal was a sweet tea of a sort that took a little getting used to, but still quite nice. My trip aboard the Pallada is certainly not one I'll soon forget. I will always remember the hospitality and all the wonderful experiences, even if I have already forgotten all the words I was taught.

Christine, Marketing and Media Intern

I set sail aboard the Lynx in route from Vancouver British Columbia to Port Alberni British Columbia around 3:00 A.M. At 4:00 A.M. I was awakened for watch duty on deck where a few of the experienced crew on watch assisted me in learning the uniqueness of Lynx's rigging and handle. Even though I have a general idea now of what every tall ship should have, each vessel is different in its own way and requires handling according to its characteristics.

I have to give kudos to the Lynx as a vessel with its beautiful varnished interior and its well kept decks. Its crew was always helpful with questions and kindly taught how things should be done aboard the vessel as well as how things worked. With plenty of sleep and a helpful crew, I learned a great deal in the best type of training environment.

As we passed the San Juan Islands just north of the Puget Sound, we came to the straights of Juan De Fuca. The wind was blowing to the West by Southwest, so our ship made a zigzag pattern through these straights as we tacked into the wind either port or starboard whenever we came close to land. Towards evening the wind died and we reluctantly turned on the engine and motored out to sea. The ocean swells were about 6 feet high and were on us even before we exited the Straights. From here we sailed north, just west of Vancouver Island and up the inlet to Port Alberni.  

Stephen Rolen, Race Intern

Sailing on board the Pallada was such an incredible experience! Christine and I were psyched when we found out that we would have an opportunity to sail on her from Vancouver to Port Alberni. The 24-hour voyage would give us a chance to meet some Russian cadets and officers, sample Russian food, and experience life on board a Russian sail training vessel.

I had always known that she was an amazing ship, but being on board gave me the opportunity to see how amazing her crew are. From the beginning, we had about five different people all watching over us to make sure we were taken care of and had everything we needed. Consequently, our time on board the ship gave Christine and me some much needed rest and relaxation. We decided to sail as passengers, not crew, as our port and sailing schedule had left us both pretty worn out. We needed a little down time, and being on board the Pallada was the perfect opportunity.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to relax and watch the cadets and officers operate the ship. Christine and I spent a great deal of time on the bridge of the ship with the captain and the mates, who were all very kind and patient in explaining to us what was happening. In one unique moment a bird became caught in the sails and crashed down on the bridge. The poor bird was obviously very confused and disorientated! The captain was the first one to go over to the frightened animal and help it to fly off the side of the boat. He is a very kind man who I greatly enjoyed spending time with.

The second night we were on board offered some of my most memorable moments on board the ship. We were brought into a classroom of cadets to introduce ourselves to them, as well as to talk with them in English. They were all very interested in knowing about us, and particularly whether Christine and I were married!

Sailing on board the Pallada will probably be one of my favorite experiences over the course of this race series. Being on the ship was the next best thing to actually getting to go to Russia, as we were able to experience Russian hospitality at its finest. Now wherever Christine and I go we have a whole fleet of Russian friends!

Laura, Education Intern

Bill of Rights in Rainy Bay

Bill of Rights in Rainy Bay

Log #16, July 14, 2005, Port Alberni, British Columbia

During our transit from Vancouver to Port Alberni, the Bill of Rights was invited to moor for the night in Rainy Bay, on the Southwest side of Vancouver Island, by The Rendezvous Dive Adventure's team, Peter and Kathy.
(www.rendezvousdiveventures.com)

About a half mile away from the resort, the Mate and I boarded our zodiac in order to go ahead and inspect the docking conditions and decide on the best position to bring the Bill in.   After meeting Peter and Kathy and getting a few minutes to inspect the dock, learn about the depth of the water and surrounding hazards, we headed back out to the Bill to report to the captain what we had learned.   The conditions were perfect for a flawless docking.  

We decided to drop anchor and let the vessel swing around to plant the stern flush with the dock.   A tricky maneuver, no doubt, but our Captain was able to handle the obstacle in one attempt.

After docking, we invited our hosts to a fantastic dinner aboard the Bill, followed by kayaking. Peter and Kathy offered the crew some time in their kayaks, to which we readily accepted.   Sean, Valerie, and myself kayaked over to a small island a few hundred yards away from the boat.   After a few minutes exploring, admiring the scenery, and snapping a few photos, we headed back for the evening.

As if our hosts weren't already gracious enough, they offered their hot tub for our use too.   Before I jumped in the hot tub, I, along with a few of the crew, and our captain, no less, decided it would be interesting to jump into the waters of Rainy Bay.   I had never swam in 15 degree (F) water before, and I don't know if I ever will again, but it was well worth it.   Jumping off the shrouds into the drink was, yet again, another experience that I won't forget.  

Sitting in the hot tub, we could hear Sean practicing his saxophone in the galley of the Bill.   Another fitting end to a great day and a great voyage.

Jason Williams, Race Intern

Here I am in Vancouver, readying myself for the next leg of my trip to Port Alberni.   Laura and I will both be sailing aboard the Pallada, and I couldn't be more excited.   I haven't had a chance to really tour the Pallada yet and now I get to sail on her.   My goal is to get to go aloft, now that I've done it once on the Lynx I am ready for anything, despite the fact that the Lynx is a significantly smaller vessel. Laura was telling me that cruises over to the Port Alberni area are very popular and very expensive, so I am looking forward to a fantastic sail; I still can't get over the idea that I will be sailing on the biggest ship here!  

Laura and I think we learned how to say ‘hello' in Russian back in Tacoma, so this will be a perfect opportunity to figure out if we're right, as well as learn some new words in Russian and make a lot of new friends.   It will be interesting to see how such a large naval vessel works in comparison to a smaller civilian vessel like the Lynx. I will be sure to take lots of photos of our experience aboard the Pallada to put up here when I arrive in Port Alberni.  

Vancouver has been one of our largest and most spread out ports yet, the ships are miles apart, but the best part is Tall Ship Island out in the bay.   People take a ferry out there, tour the ships and take a ferry back.   Tall Ship Island has been declared a sovereign nation by the four founding ships and the flag flies proudly under the flag of the governing body (JJM Construction who built the barge). People seem to really be enjoying seeing the ships and talking with all the sailors about their lives aboard the ships.   I have certainly enjoyed being in a big city but I am looking forward to Port Alberni and the feel of a smaller town.   More to come later!

Christine, Media and Marketing Intern

I left Tacoma on board the Bill of Rights on July 4th, shortly after the last of the fireworks ceased crackling in the distance. We were headed straight for Vancouver and aimed to get there as quickly as possible for a special early entrance planned by the port. Consequently the ship's crew was broken into watches so that she could sail continuously for the duration of the trip. My watch group was assigned 12-4, meaning that we would take responsibility for the ship from 12pm-4pm and 12am-4am. The remainder of our time was designated for sleeping, cleaning and otherwise enjoying the two-day trip north.

Unfortunately, the weather was not entirely cooperative. It grew cold that first night I had watch, and then rain began the following day. Weather really does make a huge impact on a sailing experience. It can cause you to feel cold, wet and dreadful, or totally exhilarated, as it did for me on that second night of sailing.

I woke up shortly before 12am on the second night to the sound of the sails being set by the watch before me. We had mainly been motoring up until that point, due to the lack of wind and our rush to Vancouver. That night, however, the wind picked up considerably, and we decided to take advantage.

By the time I was on deck, the ship was flying! The night was dark and cloudy, with strong swells and powerful wind. It was the roughest sea I had ever experienced on board a boat, and I nervously assumed my watch position. The darkness of the night made me all the more fearful, as it was hard to see much of anything from the bow. I have since been told that this “rough sea” was nothing compared to what I would experience in later sails, but still, I was scared!

It was then that the watch leader called me to take the helm. I had done this several times before, but only during daylight in relatively calm waters. This was entirely different, however, and quickly went from terrifying to totally exhilarating! As soon as I was able to relax a bit I realized how amazing the situation before me truly was. I will never forget the site of the big beautiful ship stretched out before me, bouncing in the surf and speeding towards Vancouver at up to 9 knots. The forces surrounding me all seemed so powerful and overwhelming, however the ship effortlessly adapted to the situation.

This experience showed me how exciting and exhilarating sailing can be, particularly when I calm myself down enough to enjoy it! I definitely had an iron grip on that helm, but I am glad that I was able to relax enough to enjoy the ride. It is now a memory that I will never forget!      

Laura, Education Intern

I was fortunate enough to receive a berth aboard the New Zealand vessel, R. Tucker Thompson, from Tacoma, WA up to Vancouver, BC.   A quick transit, lasting only about two and a half days, it was one of many experiences this summer that I won't soon forget.             

The first night on transit, we moored in Port Townsend, WA, but were unable to actually set foot on land due to having already sent in our paperwork for Canadian Customs.   We left Port Townsend early the next morning and made our way across the Straight of Juan de Fuca managing to dodge all the freighter and ferry traffic that came our way.  

Navigating through the San Juan Islands, we were hoping to spot some orca but to no avail.   Not to say the day was disappointing, because it was far from that.   The picturesque scenery of the San Juan Islands made up for the lack of orca.  

The weather was less than par but I managed to keep the sea sickness at bay (no pun intended).   We ended the day in a beautiful harbor on Mayne Island, just inside the Canadian waters.

Entering the harbor around 6 PM, we were greeted by a lone seal whose curiosity seemed to have gotten the best of him.   The crew spent a wonderful evening up on deck having dinner and tea while watching the sun set behind Vancouver Island.  

Once again, we arose early in the morning to weigh anchor and head for Vancouver.   We arrived in English Bay, just off downtown Vancouver, shortly after 1 o'clock in the afternoon.   All the vessels then joined in a Parade of Sail around English Bay, lasting about 2 hours.   Shortly after the start of the Parade, we began launching water balloons at the surrounding vessels, most of which laughed and waved, or at least, we hope they did.   

All in all, it was a great three days aboard a beautiful boat with a great crew.  

Jason Williams, Race Intern

I boarded the Lynx around midnight on the fourth, just after all the passengers for the fireworks sail had disembarked.   Adria, Mike, Steve and I got to see the fireworks, which were spectacular, from the house of one of the main organizers of Tall Ships Tacoma.   The crew of the Lynx were all still in their ‘funnies,' which is what they call the period clothing they wear for public sails.   Shortly after I boarded two crew members from the Bill of Rights also boarded to sail on the Lynx up to Vancouver. After finishing up a few things the crew mustered (gathered) and watches were assigned.   I was on the starboard watch, with happened to be first, from 1200-0400, with the Captain, Doug, and the engineer, who introduced himself as Matty O.   My first watch ever was distinctly chilly, due in large part to the late hour and my lack of proper attire, but full of great conversation and more time on the helm.  

Nothing too exciting happened during my watch and soon enough it was time for bed.   In the blink of an eye I was woken for breakfast, after which I promptly went back to bed.   In another blink of an eye it was time for lunch.   My watch was up again from 1200-1600, an ideal watch as many wonderful things happened.   We set sail, and actually sailed for part of the time, a new experience given the lack of wind.   We also made our way through the San Juan Islands listening to the whale watching radios in hopes of hearing a location of some whales.   There was no success on that front but we did see some harbor porpoises and the San Juans are so beautiful they don't really need much embellishment.   That night we anchored of Sucia Island and a few of us went ashore to see what we could see by the sea.   I walked around the island with the ever-friendly Doug. We had a few close encounters with some vicious wildlife, namely a few banana slugs and a snail, but we made it out with all limbs still in place.   I was fortunate enough to have an early anchor watch that night, which meant I got a full night's sleep.

In the morning all hands got up and set sail off the hook; I got the opportunity to go aloft.   I was very excited about going aloft and really just biding my time until the opportunity arose.   Kristine went up with me explaining things the whole way.   The whole crew aboard the Lynx is super friendly, excited about sailing and more than willing to answer all my questions and explain everything that's happening.   I helped unfurl the square topsail and made my way back down the rigging.   Unfortunately I didn't have my camera  up there, so there is no proof aside from my word that I went up, but I'll vouch for myself.   This was all before breakfast!

The day passed relatively quietly, I chatted with folks about all sorts of things, mostly sailing, until my watch came up again.   Once again, a great watch, we actually sighted some orcas off the stern.   Everyone rushed aft and the whales obliged by showing themselves again.   By my reckoning the 12-4 watch is the best one.   That evening we arrived in Vancouver and tied up to Tall Ship Island out in the harbor.   Immediate plans were made to declare Tall Ship Island a sovereign nation and raise a flag.   The crew all sat down to dinner together in the main salon.   The food is all prepared by the cook Tia who is amazing.   Everything she put her hands too was very tasty.  

That evening I offered to have boat duty and stay aboard, knowing I would have lots of time in Vancouver, so others could go ashore if they wanted.   I spent the evening chatting with Matty O. and Kristin in the engine room while Matty O. unclogged and fixed the head and Kristin made the official flag of Tall Ship Island.   We all called it an early night, with thoughts of the parade of sail to take place in the morning.  

The parade of sail was great, and there was actually enough wind to do some real sailing.   I learned the most during that sail.   All hands were on deck, and happy to explain what was happening and what I was doing, and we maneuvered around a lot so there was plenty to do.   It was a terrific sail but my heart went out to the media fellow with his video camera trying to get shots of all the crew in their historical garb with me in my tie-dyed shirt and stained jeans mucking up all his shots.   I didn't let it bother me too much, I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to learn as much as I could.  

That evening I disembarked the Lynx with hopes of seeing all the folks on board again, which is likely as the Lynx is going all the way to San Diego.   Stephen's ship was also docked on Tall Ship Island, and we made our way back to mainland and met up with the rest of the ASTA team.   The transit from Tacoma could only have been better if that mythical creature some call ‘the sun' had made an appearance.   I think I have caught the sailing bug, and there is no turning back now.  

Christine, Media and Marketing Intern

I sailed aboard the Zodiac from Tacoma Washington to Vancouver British Columbia. The interior and exterior was kept looking good and clean. Much attention to detail and time in maintenance work has been put into this vessel and it is a pretty site to the eyes. It is rigged as a gaff schooner under sail, and under motor power it uses a 500 horse power diesel engine.

Our first stop was in a small port where we took on some girl scouts from Orange County California, and some boy scouts from Oregon. The second evening we anchored in a bay inside of a small island.

One of the highlights for me was taking a canoe after we had arrived and rowing about part of the shoreline. While on shore I made friends with a few seals and crabs, then walked ashore and picked a few flowers. The island was comprised mostly of sandstone. Since sandstone comes from compaction rather than from an original molten state, it tends to be softer and easily erodes. This has left the shoreline of the island pitted with caves as the waves erode the softer parts of the sandstone and leave naturally crafted sculptures and nature's artwork. Some of the caves go far enough in that there are occasional sea spouts that shoot up through blow holes when water from the sea is rough and the waves push through the caves. The time I spent canoeing the shorelines and observing nature untainted was truly a million dollar experience.   

Stephen Rolen, Race Intern

These past three days in Tacoma have been a blur. I feel like I just arrived in the city and now I am packing to leave again! This is probably due to the fact that I went straight from the Bill of Rights to ASTA festival work Thursday, and haven't really stopped since.   On Friday the entire team helped to set up our two ASTA booths. There is a great deal of organization and man-power needed to get those booths ready for customers.

Saturday and Sunday, however, I moved on to a totally different project: the Children's Mural. Let me just start by saying that this mural experience has been totally different than I planned it to be back in Newport! I have learned that plans easily fly out the window when you give hundreds of little kids paint and paintbrushes!

The mural design was supposed to feature a large schooner sailing on the ocean surface, with a sky and banner proclaiming the festival name, as well as an undersea portion for the kids to get creative within and paint their own sea creatures. I was going to paint the majority and leave a section for them. My original design implementation was hampered by the available supplies, and before I knew it, the kids' own creativity had spread all over the entire wall. I only had a chance to get an ocean background painted in before they began adding their original paintings. The end result of the children's mural looks nothing like what I had planned!

They painted fantastic ocean creatures, as well as ships and birds and clouds and all sorts of figures into the landscape. The wall was covered, and boy did they have a blast! The kids really seemed to love this opportunity to paint on a wall, and so I pretty much just went with the flow and let them do what they wanted. This activity was a big hit with the kids as well as their parents. Everyone seemed to get really into it, and we had no problem finishing the mural in one day! Because of the huge response, we actually had to add on additional panels to the wall to make additional room for the kids to paint.

Through this experience I learned a valuable lesson about involving kids in art. Basically, they have way more fun when they have the freedom to do what they want and get creative. My original plan would have never worked in this port because only a few kids would have been able to participate. It would have been much more of me painting, rather than them, which they probably wouldn't enjoy very much. Instead, I am going to estimate that at least 250 kids helped paint this mural. Sure it is a little big crazy and disorganized, but who am I to infringe upon their fun? I have learned that when faced with hoards of six and seven year olds wielding paintbrushes, flexibility is key!

Laura, Education Intern

The Tall Ships® parade started with the ships sailing out of Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. The destination was the nearby Tacoma port. It took about six hours to get the ships lined up to where they were supposed to be, but once this was done, the tall ships sailed into Tacoma in a timely and orderly fashion.

The weather could not have been better. There was a steady breeze that allowed for the tallships to sail at an average speed of 4-6 knots. The waters between Tacoma and Whidbey Island were crammed with spectator boats. The Coast Guard was active with cutters and helicopters. Also private vessels were serving as security as there was supposed to be one security vessel per tallship.

I spent most of my time on bow watch or in the crows nest. Spectators filled the shoreline for miles with seventeenth and eighteenth century bands playing classical and nautical music. Some areas of the shoreline had cannon replicas shooting off which made loud reports and a lot of smoke. But for the exception of modern Tacoma, the motor vessels, and the helicopters, it was truly a seventeenth century day.

Please check out the pictures from this event at: http://thenewstribune.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=43666

Stephen Rolen, Race Intern

Crew and trainees aboard the Bill of Rights don "silly" hats for the Parade of Sail into Tacoma	Zodiac	Puyallup Nation canoes escort the vessels into their traditional territory

To put it simply, I was terrified about my first sail on a tall ship. I was terrified that I would fail miserably, that I would inflict damage upon the boat, or worse yet, be an utter burden for the kind ship that was taking me from Victoria to Tacoma. The crew members I had met while in Victoria looked like the saltiest, toughest sailors I had ever seen in my life. What if I was not tough enough for this ship? What if I didn't measure up? What if I hated it? Sailing on my grandfather's boat was a long way from living and working with 18 other people on a schooner. I confided these fears to Adria, Christine and Rhianne (an awesome volunteer with us in Victoria), and they gave me a much-needed pep talk the night before the ship set sail. Despite this, last Monday evening I boarded the Bill of Rights with intense trepidation.

Although I was scared, it was important to me that I gave this sailing experience my all. I took this position with ASTA because it would provide opportunities unlike I had ever had before. I wanted to try new things, go new places, and mark my transition from college to graduate school with an unforgettable experience. Therefore, as uncomfortable as I felt onboard that ship the first day, I threw myself into sailing. I started off hoping that if I kept myself busy I wouldn't have a chance to think about how out of place I felt, or how much I missed familiar places and faces.

Without realizing it, however, I began to enjoy myself. I can clearly remember the moment when I stopped what I was doing, looked around me at the spectacular scenery, and breathed a sigh of relief because I realized that I really liked sailing.

The crew members on board the Bill of Rights were pivotal in making me feel more at ease on board the ship. They reminded me that they too had once been beginners, and that it was ok to not know anything about sailing a schooner as long as you tried your best to learn and pull your weight.

Being on the ship wasn't all great, of course, but I found that the more unpleasant tasks just made me feel closer to the crew and more appreciate of the wonderful moments that followed. I began to not only understand, but also feel a part of the community that I had always heard about existing on board ships.

One lesson I was forced to learn on the Bill of Rights was trust. Sailing on board a ship involves a great deal of trust and faith in the people around you to make sure you are safe. I will always remember the night I woke up because the ship was tossing in strong swells, only to hear Stephen's footsteps above me on deck doing anchor watch. I fell asleep reassured that he would make sure everything was ok.

We arrived in Tacoma on Thursday afternoon, and I was genuinely sad to leave the crew. I was happy to see Adria, Steve and Christine again, as well as get a much-needed shower, but I missed the familiar rocking of the ship and the eclectic family I had gotten to know and care about. Now I am looking forward to Monday when I will re-board the Bill of Rights and sail with her to Vancouver!

Laura, Education Intern

My first log while at sea.   My transition to sea life has gone rather well, I do believe.   I've gotten to know the crew and the vessel since we boarded her Sunday afternoon.   The three weeks of anticipation and impatience were well worth the time and energy spent here aboard the Bill of Rights. Over the last few days, the particular question ‘Why didn't I do this sooner?' has managed to surface more frequently than I'd like to admit.

We left Victoria on Monday morning at roughly 1100 hours.   With 19 crew aboard and only 2 passengers, the day was sure to be interesting.   The race from Victoria to Port Angeles, about 16 nautical miles, began promptly at 1200 hours.   A speaker was heard over the radio giving a 5-4-3-2-1-Go countdown which only fueled the fire of excitement aboard.  

Bill of Rights was one of the first vessels to reach the starting line, save for the Pallada and Cuauhtemoc.   Ironically though, we were the last vessel to cross the line and get underway.   If memory serves me, we began on a port tack but soon thereafter we tacked to starboard and remained on that tack, heading up, for the remainder of the race.  

The rest of the boats headed down for quite some time.   We were on our reach and at the furthest point, they were probably about 1-1.5 miles east of our position.  

Now, I did mention previously that the day would was sure to be interesting.   A few miles into the race, we started to pull out all the stops, so to speak, and experience with different sails on different lines.   The main and fore topsails were rigged, as was a pseudo-fisherman's sail that we rigged to the flag halyards, which transformed the Bill into a quasi-square rig.   We really got inventive when we rigged a small 4'x12' sail across the underside of the forward boom.

The last mile or so we were neck and neck with the HMCS Oriole, with the Pallada closing in on us rapidly.   We had gained about a length on the Oriole, and the proverbial sun was starting to shine through, now that we were in the unofficial first place, but our joy was soon destroyed when the Oriole trimmed her sails and quickly passed us with no sign of slowing.

Luckily though, we were able to hold off the Pallada for the remainder of the race.   So, unofficially, we came in second, but with the handicap time correction factories, the overall winner was the Lady Washington, which was in reality, a good hour or so to our stern.   No worries though, all in good fun.   The running joke of the Bill is that we're happy the Lady won.   It's only been a few hundred years since she won a race.   Good for her!

Jason Williams, Race Intern

On Monday morning the 27 th I awoke with early risers of Victoria andmade my way over to the Lavengro to sail with them to Tacoma.   We weren't participating in the race to Port Angeles, so we made our way to Port Townsend for the night.   On the way out Captain Dierk let me steer; in an effort to carry on in a straight line I alternately took us back to Canada and out to sea as I steered wrong and overcorrected.   After a short while though I did get the hand of things and managed to stay pretty well on course.   On the trip to Port Townsend we motored the whole way, as there was no wind to push us.   We managed to stay out of the fog and rain that threatened on the horizon and had a lovely ride.   There wasn't a lot of sailing to learn, difficult to trim sails that aren't up after all, but I did learn to whip and splice rope.   I made two ratlines that are going up the shrouds.   At Port Townsend we had to clear customs and our CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) Inspector was friendly and even cracked a few jokes.   He brought with him the Otter Welcoming Commission in the form of an otter that hung out on dock, scratched his face and performed generally cute antics while we waited for customs.  

Tuesday the 28th we motored on over to Madison Point on Bainbridge Island, again there was no wind.   Bainbridge Island had a big party for the crews of all the tallships that came through there. (Pallada, Cuauhtemoc and us, the Lavengro.).   The BBQ was a good time with lots of good food, and a very warm welcome from the residents of Bainbridge.   The evening rounded out with a tug-of-war between the crews of the Mexican ship Cuauhtemoc and the Russian ship Pallada. I didn't for a second believe that Steve was serious earlier in the evening when he said that there was going to be a tug-of-war, turns out I was wrong.   What a fun event, the Mexican crew members were cheering, and singing, and doing the wave and going to town; they got really into it.   The Russian crew members were a little more reserved but still put in a very good showing.   The crew of the Pallada were at a disadvantage because they were wearing their dress uniforms with dress shoes while the crew of the Cuauhtemoc came prepared with sneakers, sweat suits, gloves and the rope.   The crew of the Cuauhtemoc won the most of the "wars" but there were smiles all around at the end; a very exciting end to the day.  

On Wednesday we headed out of Madison Point with the Pallada and the Cuauhtemoc behind us.   The Pallada was playing Russian symphonic music loudly over its speakers, and rousing wake up and a great way to start the day.   The day was fairly uneventful as we motored, after an unsuccessful attempt at sailing, over to Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island.   The sun broke through partway through the day and Mt. Rainier also came out for some magnificent views of Seattle and Puget Sound.   That evening was the crew barbeque, complete with salmon, for all the ships participating in the Parade of Sail the next day. I met up with the other interns who had been sailing on the Bill of Rights. They were all in high spirits and it was a fun evening all around.  

Thursday brought the Parade of Sail into Tacoma.   In the morning a group of High School kids came aboard the Lavengro to take part in the Parade of Sail and learn some more about sailing.   They were a good group of kids and we had a lot of fun.   I was put on bow watch while everyone was rallying and getting organized for the parade to begin.   There were boats of all sized milling around the harbor. It was very exciting to see all the tall ships with all their sails out and all the spectator boats and media boats milling around, lots of activity and excitement.   I stayed on bow watch the whole day, and my job became significantly easier once the escort boats had cleared a channel and moved all the spectator boats off to the sides.   During the Parade there were some salutes from local cannon enthusiasts, which were returned by cannons aboard the Lynx and the Lady Washington.   A lot of other boats also had cannons, by the end of the day it almost seemed like everyone had a cannon and was partaking in the salutes.   We were one of the first boats to arrive, our place in line was 5th.

My first sailing experience was certainly a good one (even if we didn't get to do much sailing).  I am even more excited now to get out there on different boats and try everything out.   The captain and crew of the Lavengro were all super friendly and easygoing, a great group of people.   I certainly hope I run into them again.   I am looking forward to what Tacoma has to offer, and a great few days here in port.   The best part is that I live right near Tacoma and my family is coming down to see the tall ships so I'll get to see them too!   I think I have caught the bug and I'm super excited to go sailing on as many ships as I can and learn as much as I can by the end of the summer.

Christine Jacobson, Media and Marketing Intern.

The end of the first port festival is in sight and I am exhausted; I fall into my bed (kindly furnished by Sandy Bennett who donated the use of her apartment in Victoria to ASTA for this event) every night without a second thought.   For a first port of call Victoria couldn't be better, the scenery is fantastic and the ships fit right in the historic harbour (Canadians add extra letters to some of their words, eh).   The first three days of Tall Ships® Victoria have been successful, even with the confusion about wristbands and boarding passes.   The ASTA team has been manning the booth in shifts and selling a lot of souvenir programs as well as getting the word out about what ASTA does.  

My job as the Media and Marketing intern involves getting all the print media that is created in every port as well as getting some video of all the events at every port.   This is the girl who just got a cell phone two weeks ago and still doesn't really know how to answer it.   Needless to say the video camera and I have been at odds most of the week.   First I couldn't even turn it on properly.   Jason sorted that one out.   Then I left the lens cap on.   Jason sorted that one out and ridiculed mercilessly.   Today I managed to turn it on without a problem but I hadn't charged it so it turned off right away.   I managed to sort that one out on my own, so things are looking up.   By my reckoning by the time we reach San Diego I will be a regular Steven Spielberg.  

So far this has been a pretty exciting job; I get a kick out of the ships every time I see them and I can't wait to get aboard one and sail.   The Russian ship Pallada and the Mexican ship Cuauhtemoc are a sight to see, especially all lit up at night.   The groups of roving Russians and Mexicans in uniform in the city are also a sight to see, although they don't light up at night.   Victoria is a beautiful city and everyone has been so welcoming and friendly, what a good first impression of Canada.   Adria has arranged passage for all of us interns from here in Victoria to the next port in Tacoma.   I am going to be aboard the Lavengro with only four other people, and Ranch, Jason and Laura are going on the Bill of Rights.   I'm excited to get out there, see some of the fantastic scenery, and learn as much as I can about tall ship sailing, eh!

Christine, Media and Marketing Intern 

The coming of the tall ships in Victoria's harbor created a regional interest in seeing them beyond my expectations. This combined with the city's advertising have brought thousands of people to the city. Indeed, so much money was in circulation that the banks in Victoria ran out of coinage.

Once the ships came from the open waters into the channel during the parade of sails, they docked according to size with the two largest ships in the deepest part of the channel. The larger ships may only leave at high tide as the rocky bottom of the channel is dangerously close to the hulls of the larger vessels at low tide.

Friday morning, the spectators seemed as eager to get onto the boats as the sailors did to get off of them. Crews seem eager to speak, and if you wish to speak to a sailor from a non-English speaking nation, it can give you a chance to brush up on your foreign languages, more specifically Spanish with the Cuauhtemoc, and Russian with the crew from the Pallada.  

Stephen, Race Intern

Steve and I aren't quite acclimated to this West coast time zone so we both find ourselves waking up around 6 AM, at the latest.   The fact that sunrise is usually around 5 AM doesn't help the situation.   By 7:30 AM, Friday, the second day in Port, we're out the door and heading over to the event office for a quick meeting with a Captain helping to organize some of the local vessels.

After our meeting had adjourned, Steve and I spent the rest of the morning delivering ASTA signs, flags, and binders to most of the ships present.   One of our first vessels to visit was the Pallada.   The Captain was busy talking with media when we first arrived so we, Steve and I, were shown into the Captains quarters to discuss some logistics with the interpreter and one of the Captain's 2nd -in-Command.   The Captain was soon able to make some time for us, after which, we went over to the Cuauhtemoc to meet with their Captain as well.

After we had delivered the equipment to the vessels, we then set out to gather up all the information from the vessels that will be entering the US for US Customs.   That was no easy task.   Trying to coordinate 20 some odd boats while maneuvering through hordes of people is no easy job.   Eventually, we got most of the required paperwork completed and through to US customs insuring smooth passage for the fleet as they head to the next port, Tacoma, next weekend.  

Jason, Race Intern

So much has happened since we left Newport last Monday morning! Christine, Jason, Stephen and I got up bright and early to catch the cab to the airport. Boy did we have a lot of stuff! All of our bags barely fit in the cab, and we were not sure everything was going to make it. However, thanks to some clever cramming and a willingness to endure the drive to Providence with bags on our laps, everything and everyone arrived at the airport on time.

We met Steve at the airport and caught the flight to Chicago. We had a brief layover there, and then caught a second flight to Seattle.

Once in Seattle we met up with Adria, who had arrived a day prior to us. Steve and Adria went to go pick up our rental van and decided that we needed to upgrade a size. The smaller size mini van was just not going to cut it!

From the Seattle airport we drove up to the Canadian border. The drive was really beautiful, as we passed spectacular mountains, lakes and farms. Christine, our local expert, told us a bit about everything we were seeing in her home state.

The drive up to Canada went by fairly quickly, thanks to many many rounds of 20 Questions. We often don't follow the rules of this game, as we are never limited to only 20 questions, and sometimes certain individuals (Christine? Jason?) choose some really obscure people. This game has become continuous entertainment for us every time we need to occupy ourselves or pass the time.

Once across the border we drove the mini van onto a ferry that would take us to Victoria. What a spectacular trip that ride was! We sailed on this ferry past some of the most picturesque scenery I have ever seen. It was gorgeous! The scenery was exactly as I had always pictured Canada to be. Beautiful blue water, dense pine trees, mountains, sunsets, this trip had it all! (Even a seagull that was out to get Jason! It has become a long-running joke that all animals hate Jason and take any opportunities to express this)

We arrived in Victoria Monday night, after traveling for about 18 hours. We were exhausted! The hotel was a very welcome site, as it is beautiful. It is right along the harbor and in the main section of town. The British Columbia Parliament building is next door, which is very picturesque. This whole city is so charming! There are flowers and gardens everywhere, quaint architecture, winding streets, museums, shops, restaurants and more. One Canadian we met told us that Victoria is full of “newly-weds” and “nearly-deads”, and it is easy to see why!

We spent Tuesday and Wednesday getting ready for the festival to start. There were a million details to take care of. We ran lots of errands, attended meetings, set up our temporary office, folded a million brochures, and did our best to create some resemblance of order before the real activity began on Thursday.

Today (Thursday) was the day that all the ships sailed into the Victoria Harbour. Most of them met yesterday off the coast of a national park on the outskirts of the city. We had a big crew party there last night, and it was so beautiful to see all of the ships anchored off in the distance. A very picturesque lighthouse on the coast only added to the charm and ambiance of the whole setting. All the crew from the different boats had a big BBQ together, and it was great to see so many different people there from so many different places!

Today the weather was perfect and Victoria Harbour was packed with people. The Parade of Sail began at 2:00, so many people came out to see the ships dock and to wander the festival grounds. The Pallada was the finale of the procession into the Harbor. Every available spot was covered with people watching her slowly inch toward her dock. People on the docks and the sailors on board were cheering and waving to each other. It was quite spectacular to watch this big beautiful ship get into place!

Everyone in this city seems so excited to have the Tall Ships here and to join in the festivities. This city has the perfect set-up for the entire event, and everything seems to be going according to plan. There is so much anticipation for tomorrow when the boats are open for touring. I am looking forward to this myself, as well as all the excitement that will come over the next few days!

Laura Warne, Education Intern

Three days ago Stephen, Jason, Christine and I all converged in Newport, Rhode Island to begin our exciting summer internship with the American Sail Training Association. We met bright and early on Monday morning with our “Intern Mommy” Adria, who gave us a briefing of what exactly we had all signed up for. We all probably arrived with different expectations and different reasons for coming, but it quickly became clear that this job would be unlike any other we had ever held before!

In the short time I have had thus far to get to know my fellow interns, I have concluded that perhaps the only thing we have in common are open minds, enthusiasm to experience a memorable summer, and a willingness to contribute our unique skills to the ASTA organization. The rest of the ASTA staff has been very welcoming to us and immediately put us to work! It has been a bit of “baptism by fire” as we all are learning how this office operates, but I know we will get the hang of it!

My job thus far has been to work with Adria to plan the educational activities that will be taking place in each of the port festivals. We have brainstormed some really fun programs and activities! We are planning walking tours based around themes, such as “Connections to History” or “Extreme Ships”. These self-guided tours will allow people to find the ships that meet their specific interests. We are also planning a scavenger hunt for the kids that will involve them going to different places on the ships to collect stamps on their treasure maps. Finally, we are planning a Children's Mural, which I will paint the outline of, and then allow kids to add their own creative touches to.

Stephen and Jason are working with Steve Baker to organize the actual race. First, however, they had to help him organize his desk and the mountain of papers on top of it! Organizing the actual logistics of a race that will be taking place 3000 miles away in another country, with hundreds of participants arriving from around the world, seems beyond daunting to me! Steve, however, seems to have it all under control, and exudes the confidence of someone who has the experience and knowledge necessary to carry this Race Series off without a hitch!

Christine has been busy helping Mike organize the Buccaneer Bash Auction, which will be taking place next Saturday evening. Her job has been to write up descriptions of each of the items that are being auctioned off that night. This auction and the Bash will be some of ASTA's biggest fundraisers, and people have donated some great items to help out the cause.

One of ASTA's biggest supporters, Harry Anderson, Jr. has also been generous enough to allow Stephen, Christine, Jason and me to stay at his house while we are in Newport. This is great because he lives two blocks away from the office, and is within walking distance of the beach, the grocery store, tons of stores, the harbor, museums, movie theatres, and more! The neighborhood he lives in is so quaint I have to keep on pinching myself to remind myself that I am really here!

There are a ton of fun activities for us to do after work, and we are slowly getting a feel for the town. The second night we were here, Stephen, Christine and I went on a Ghost Tour of Newport, which was a lot of fun! This weekend we plan to go to the beach, tour some mansions, walk along the Cliff Walk and explore the town a little more!

Today the four interns and Adria went on a harbor sail with some high school students from Providence. The weather was spectacular and it was wonderful to be outside and experience a bit of sailing! The high school students were thrilled that the captain of the boat let them take turns steering the boat, and they all seemed to thoroughly enjoy their afternoon away from school.

So far, I am enjoying my time here a great deal, and I am looking forward to the exciting things that will be taking place in the future!

Laura Warne, Education Intern