Ships' News: Monday, March 25, 2013

Mail Call! Happy Faces Aboard Harvey Gamage: Students Reading News From Loved Ones Back Home. (See more photos of mail call here.)

Harvey Gamage students are safely ensconced in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and are now at work on a service project in the small island community of Hato Nuevo.  Stay tuned for more information as it arrives, and some great photos, too!
 



Schooner Virginia cleared in to St. Thomas late last week and is now anchored near the small island of Culebra, a Puerto Rican municipality located approximately 17 miles (27 km) east of the Puerto Rican mainland, 12 miles (19 km) west of St. Thomas and 9 miles (14 km) north of Vieques. While on island, students will visit a local school, explore the natural beauty, snorkel the island's many reefs and enjoy the laid back atmosphere of this small Caribbean island.

Schooner Virginia Crew Setting Sail

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Ships' News: Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Happy Spring! We here in the Northeast are shoveling out from a late winter snowstorm while our students ply the waters of the Caribbean. It goes without saying: those of us that our office-bound wish we were sailing NW aboard the Harvey Gamage. Ships' company is underway, bound for Dominican Republic. As of yesterday they were north of Aves Island (a very small Venezuelan-owned island many miles from Venezuela) due south of St. Croix. When they arrive at anchor in the DR, students will head inland to the small community of Hato Nuevo where they will engage in a large service project: helping construct a new school.for the community's children. Holy week is coming right up: Palm Sunday is March 24th and celebrations continue through Easter day. The experience of being in country with a devout Christian-base will be an exciting one for our students. Stay tuned for more info about the Service Project in Hato Nuevo...

Schooner Virginia departed Chacachacare on Tuesday, bound for St. Thomas. They will fuel up in San Juan and head NW bound for the Dominican Republic. It will be a ten-day passage. They are due to arrive in the DR on Good Friday (3/29) and will launch into the aforementioned service project in Hato Nuevo around Easter Sunday.

All are well.


Do you have a student looking for a gap term experience? Look no further: OCF is offering a September to December GAP TERM! During the gap term (aboard schooner Amistad,) students will:

• participate in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race; 
• will do a service project for Hurricane Sandy relief, 
• will visit the Philadelphia Maritime Museum; 
• will engage in the Hato Nuevo Community School service project; 
• will have the opportunity to learn Spanish (there will be two Spanish-speaking instructors on board); 
• will receive training and certification for CPR and First Aid.
  
  And did we mention that sea time counts for any student looking to pursue a career in the maritime trades? Yes--that, too! Contact us for more information about Gap Term.

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Ships' News: Thursday, March 14, 2013

View from Chacachacare Lighthouse
Republic of Trinidad/Tobago

Harvey Gamage is scheduled to depart Chacachacare (Trinidad) this afternoon, northwest bound for Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo de Guzmán). They are due to arrive in port there on the 22nd of March. Students have been exploring, hiking, and taking in the beauty of their natural surroundings while in Trinidad/Tobago. The island of Chacachacare is uninhabited except for a small staff that mans the island's lighthouse. This lighthouse is notable as it sits atop the high point of land on the island, making it one of the highest lighthouses (from sea level) in the world. From the top, visitors are afforded spectacular views of Venezuela and beyond.

Meanwhile, Virginia arrived in Trinidad/Tobago on Wednesday and is currently anchored off the Trinidad/Tobago yacht club. While on island, students will spend most of the week exploring the island and visiting Chacachacare. It is the westernmost of the Boca Islands between Trinidad and Venezuela. At various times in its history, Chacachacare has served as a cotton plantation, a whaling station and a leper colony.

Amistad gets underway today, bound for St. Thomas where they have a number of short charters scheduled.

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Ships' News: Monday, March 11, 2013

Harvey Gamage is currently in Trinidad, having arrived on Saturday They’ll spend most of the week exploring the island. On Wednesday they’ll visit the small island of Chacachacare (900 acres) in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. At various times in its history, Chacachacare has served as a cotton plantation, a whaling station and a leper colony. Gamage will depart Trinidad bound for Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo de Guzmán) on Thursday. It is a 600-mile passage across the Caribbean Sea—the crew are allotting 10 days to make the trip.

Meanwhile, Virginia departed Grenada on Sunday bound for Trinidad. They are expected to arrive there tomorrow (Tuesday). Once in Trinidad, ship’s company will spend five days exploring on and around the island. They’ll visit Asa Wright Nature Center, will enjoy Bake and Shark, a very popular street food sold in Trinidad and Tobago. Bake & Shark is a must-try for island visitors and is a weekly treat for locals. While at the nature center, students will take in the diverse flora and fauna of the island. Due to their close proximity to South America, Trinidad & Tobago have an impressive species list which includes 97 native mammals, 400 birds, 55 reptiles, 25 amphibians, 617 butterflies, as well as over 2,200 species of flowering plants. While on the island, they’ll also engage in a full-day island hike and will experience the rich multi-cultural diversity of the island communities.

Amistad has completed deck re-caulking. Crew is preparing to get underway toward the U.S.V.I. They are due in St. Thomas at the end of the week.

All are well.

Monday, March 11, 2013

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