Noon Position: Docked in Lunenburg, NS, Canada
Weather: Partly cloudy, warm, light cool wind, sunny, H 21c L 11c, barometer 1022
Today was a much anticipated day for most of the crew. Today, was ‘up and over’ day! Finally each new crew member will have the opportunity to head aloft. Directly after lunch the entire crew collected for a detailed talk from Captain Sikkema regarding safety procedures, proper use of a harness and the history and reasons behind why we use them. Once everyone understood the seriousness of going aloft, and had their harness and footwear approved by the Chief Mate, the pro crew took their assigned positions and the ‘up and overs’ began. One by one, those who wanted to go aloft did so – up on starboard and down on port.
Our other main training task today was to have a slow run through of our fire and prepare to abandon ship emergency drills. The importance of knowing your station bill assignments, and thus your responsibility during an emergency, was reiterated again. Along with head counters knowing where to find you, having a specific job has the effect of mobilizing the crew during an emergency. You have a focus, you have a job to do – this goes a long way to dispelling initial panic. These drills will be held over and over again, until crew responses are second nature.
Ships Work: Down rigged temporary top mast stays on fore and main; coating on jib boom and main t’gallant yard; sanded and finished clothespin on main t’gallant mast; up rigged new fore top mast stay; reorganized sole; continued primer coatings on chain plates and seizings; finished chafe gear on all head stays and foot ropes.