Grumpy Old Men Bucket List Cruise, 2010

Coastal Sail Training and Navigation Training Cruise

Set sail on the 125-foot Schooner Liberty Clipper for a coastal sailing ship voyage where you will participate as part of the crew. The ship will set sea-watches; each voyage participant will be assigned to a watch. Throughout the cruise, participants will cycle through other shipboard duties that will consist of short lectures, instructional sessions and experiential training to include:

• Navigation class: Learn the basics of coastal navigation and piloting to include calculating height of tide, bridge clearance, tidal currents, position determination and other skills.
• Marlinspike seamanship: Knot-tying and line-splicing classes aboard the ship.
• Sailing basics: Instruction in sailing terminology, sailing theory and hands-on sail handling skills.
• Engineering: Shadow our engineer as he shows you the mechanical systems on the ship. Trace these systems throughout the ship just as engineers in the Merchant Marine are required to do.
• Skullery: Appreciate the most important job on any ship, the galley and food-prep, as you work with the galley staff doing food prep-work, scrubbing pots/pans and assisting with meals.
• Safety / Sea Survival: Overview of shipboard safety and the basics of sea-survival.
• Marine Electronics: Basic use of GPS, RADAR and marine communications.

The above topics are not intended to convey a mastery of any subject, however, they will expose the participant to a broad range of topics covering every aspect of the operation of a large sailing ship.

Itinerary...

• Boarding: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Saturday, April 17th, 2010 from 3:00pm - 7:00pm
• Disembarks: Charleston, SC - Saturday, April 24th, 2010 by 12:00 noon.
• Cost: $1,075 / each - all cabins are double occupancy