Cobh, Ireland to Portland, Maine
Friday, 16 June Day 51 Daily Log Voyage # 0806
CAPTAIN'S LOG I have lined up a series of GUEST EDITORS which will grace this space on some of our remaining days. A mix of Faculty, staff and students to give you a bit of a different perspective of Training Cruise 2006. Today's guest editor is Captain Ralph Pundt, Chair MTO Department As a deck professor on the STATE OF MAINE and also ashore in the classrooms at MMA I have a unique opportunity to truly understand what is learned and retained from the classroom. As we develop and constantly adjust the training programs for both 2^nd and 4^th class students, we try to envision what challenges they will face in their chosen professions. Our students have at their disposal a wealth of maritime experience. Our training and watch officers come from industry and truly know what is required of the cadets when they finish school. If the students take advantage of this opportunity, they will learn more than they can imagine. In the deck department we have to make the right decision based on the best information available. This is an art, and every artist paints a different picture. By having the array of personalities and professional experiences on board our students can see the same challenge from many different vantage points. We are frequently asked, what is the best solution to a particular problem? In far too many instances there are no black and white answers. Deck students must learn all their lessons well, but more importantly must learn how to think on their feet, to foresee and prevent crisis situations. Should such a situation arise they must be able to quickly and effectively meet the challenge of the situation and avert a catastrophic event. On cruise we can see who will be the strong leaders and who will be the followers. Our challenge is to make the followers into leaders. The key is simple to state but difficult to obtain “attitude”. Provide me with a class full of students with a positive attitude and we will develop the greatest mariners know to man. We have the resources and the staff to back up this claim, it is up to the student to step up to the plate and give it their all. On cruise we can see, who are the leaders and who are the followers simply by their attitude. We are dedicated to building our students into the very best, if they want it bad enough. Cruise is an excellent opportunity to challenge the students, in real world management situations requiring intelligence, stamina, and a “can do attitude. It is easy to step back from a challenge. We encourage stepping forward, take a chance and should you not gain the best results, you will still have learned more than by simply stepping back. It’s all about opportunity and attitude. Personally what I enjoy most about the cruise is seeing the students eyes open when they encounter a different way of life. When they see and appreciate different cultures, history, architecture, and attitudes. When for the first time in their lives they are strangers in a foreign environment, and have to find a way to adapt. This is the beauty of travel and this is the difference you should see in your sons or daughters growth. They are wiser for it, and that is why travel is the greatest educator. Check out our Question and Answer page.

Flat Stanley and Flat Stella

The "FLAT" story: TODAY Stella and Stanley are obviously enjoying the view out the Bridge window looking forward as we motor westward in the Atlantic.


Daily Cruise Statistics
Position at 1200 Local Time (LT) Zone Description +2 hours Latitude 37-48.0 N Longitude 048-32.6 W 2 hours ahead of Castine Noon to noon (or Departure to Noon or Noon to Arrival): Distance: 364.9 Nmiles Time run: 25 hrs 00 min Average Speed. 14.6 Kts Total passage distance: 2207.7 Nmiles (to date) Total passage Time: 06 Days 06 Hours 00 Minutes Total Average Speed: 14.7 Kts ETA Portland Maine 21 June 06 at 0700 Local time
Today's Activities
Training Company: Maintenance Company: Utility Company: Duty (Watch) Company:	Alpha Charlie Bravo Delta
Weather
Wind: SW'ly 24 Knots Sea: Rough SW'ly Swell: Moderate NW'ly Sky: Mostly sunny & Fair Weather Fringe winds and swells from "Alberto" to our North Temperature: 74 Air 70 Sea Synopsis: . Fringes of the Low to the North


PHOTO's
Above presentation by our Chinese Students enlightened everyone about China, history, culture, food and Dalian Maritime University Skit night had three performances as shown above.
Notes:
Portland Info: BERTH: Maine State Pier, East Side Portland/Castine Excursion: Portland to Castine the day we arrive back at our home berth has been designated as a possible "excursion day". The U.S. Coast Guard has been asked to grant us a permit to take extra persons on board above our vessels certification. To do this we have to have certain lifesaving procedures and equipment on board. Accordingly the numbers we can take are strictly limited. We, of necessity, have limited our guests to 2 persons per upper class student on cruise (immediate family members only) plus official MMA invitees and crew member guests. We can not offer more because we do not have the lifesaving capability. Also this is always a tentative adventure which because of weather, security, operational difficulties etc. may be cancelled up to the last moment. The security issue is becoming a big item in how we offer and execute these excursions, so for those who are planning to attend please be patient with the necessary procedures.
Schooner BOWDOIN Summer Cruise Itinerary: 01 June Underway Castine 03 June Brown's Bank 06 June Sable Island (weather permitting, if not we may stop on the way back) 08 June Strait of Canso 09 June Charlottetown PEI 11 June Summerside, PEI 14 June Isle de Magdeline 17 June Bras D'Or Lakes, Beddeck, NS 24 June Lunenburg NS 30 June Castine UPDATE Bowdoin Update from Captain Worth 6/16/06 9:30 AM: We all had a really great time on Cap aux Muelles; rented mopeds, met a lot of very warm and friendly people, for the most part French-speaking, but a little English. We are currently underway for Cape Breton at 8 knots, weather is fair and foggy. Expect to reach Bras D'Or Lakes Lakes tomorrow. Was able to hear the TSSOM on the UHF radio last night, but they were unable to hear us. Will keep listening and trying. John.
Tally
*Cruise mileages:* Castine to Barcelona Barcelona to Barcelona (Training) Barcelona to Gibraltar Gibraltar to Gdynia Gdynia to Kiel Kiel to Cuxhaven Cuxhaven to Cobh Cobh to Portland Portland to Castine TOTAL Cruise Mileage:		3614.6 Nautical Miles 248.6 Nautical Miles 519.1 Nautical Miles 2442.4 Nautical Miles 357.4 Nautical Miles 99.0 Nautical Miles 841.7 Nautical Miles 2675 Nautical Miles (Estimated) 90 Nautical Miles (Estimated) 10,887.8 Nautical Miles (Estimated)