TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 28th June - Follow up - Cape Town

Home again! Team SA follow up meeting 28th June 2009 - Felix Kleinwort

Our debriefing was supposed to start at 9:30am, but the last person only arrived at about 10:20.
While waiting we watched a presentation made by Hilary.

It felt good to see everyone being well. At first each of us got a table where we were supposed to show the highlights and our lows for each port we visited on the trip. Marx and Monde shared those with the rest of the group.

After doing that we talked about our media work and how things worked out with our team leaders.

After having a lunch break, where we got sandwiches that where prepared by Helen, Asekho and Shane, we started talking about what we can do in the future to stay in contact and to make similar trips possible for other teenagers. We also split up into groups that would do things like: speeches, a video, a slideshow and the logbook.

The meeting officially ended at 16:30 and before everyone left we all got cupcakes with a “2,6“ on them, which was what we screamed on the Concordia when we were hauling on a line.

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - Wednesday 17th June - Cape Town

Team SA 2009 is back from a journey of a life time! On Wednesday 17 June 2009 at 8 am they were welcomed by friends and families at Cape Town International Airport. A moment long anticipated!! Now is the time of story telling ... and there will be plenty, no doubt.

On 28 June 2009 the team will meet again at the Cape Windjammers offices in Woodstock to give feedback to Cape Windjammers about the experience, and to share with each other the experience to come back home as this is often the most difficult part of a journey. The team will also make plans for the future: there are presentations and events to be prepared, a video to be edited, and most importantly, how will they stay in touch as a team?

Keep on checking this blog to keep informed about the final legs of the team’s journey back here in Cape Town!

Head of School Update - Bermuda

Best Wishes From Class Afloat!

To our South African friends,

I am sure you are very excited to welcome your "Floaties" home after their incredible tall ship adventure. In many ways they will be the same but in many ways we hope that they have changed over the past 2.5 months, taking on a more global perspective as well as developing friendships and skills to last a lifetime.

It was our pleasure to host your sons and daughters and we feel that our students benefited immensely from this opportunity. Thank you for sharing your family and culture with us and thank you to Cape Windjammer Education Trust for all their efforts and hard work to bring this experience to fruition. We hope you have enjoyed being a part of this adventure!

Your Floaties will always be members of the Class Afloat family and will be missed by their crew. Please keep in touch and we wish all of them the very best in all their future endeavours.

Fair winds,
Kate

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 15th June - Bermuda

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 14th June - Bermuda

Meeting the Mayor of Hamilton, Bermuda - Helen Worthington-Smith

14 June 2009,

Today we had a planned port program; we were going to be going to the famous crystal caves of Bermuda. We woke up early and walked to the bus ranks where we caught the number eleven bus out of town. We managed to squeeze all 40 of us into the bus, even though it meant that we had to sit on each other’s laps and most of us had to stand.
When we arrived at the caves we were introduced to our guide who told us the safety rules (always hold onto the handrails, do not touch the crystal formations etc.) We were then led into the depths of the earth… To get to the caves we had to walk down a steep flight of dimly lit, very slippery stairs. As we got lower into the earth we started seeing beautiful crystalline structures and all around you heard the steady drip of the water which forms these wonders. Then we turned a corner and found ourselves in a cave that was half filled with the most crystal clear (excuse the pun) water I had ever seen. Stalagtites descended down from the roof like the jaws of a huge monster and if you looked down into the water, you could see the broken stalagtites which had broken from the ceiling and fallen down.

Our guide told us that the crystals were formed by water which drips down through the earth, collecting calcium as it goes. It then drips and hardens, forming the ¨teeth¨ shapes. They form a cubic inch every 100 years!!

After the caves we all went our separate directions. I went to the aquarium and the natural history museum then went to the media centre to make a few phone calls home. The South African crew then met at the ship and went to have dinner with the mayor of Bermuda but when we got there we found that they had over booked and we couldn´t have dinner. However, we met the mayor and had the chance to hand over a gift and mayoral greetings from the Mayor of Cape Town.

We went back to the ship and had supper there then went out into the town to enjoy our last night in Bermuda and with the Canadian crew.

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 13th June - Bermuda

13th June - Bermuda - People, Parade and Tall Ships - Shane Barnes!!



We are still docked in the most amazing place I have ever seen – Bermuda!!! It's sooo unbelievable! With all the festivities taking place every where you look its hard not to over indulge yourself in complete enjoyment.

Today all the CAF students will take part in a Trainee Parade, which will take place from Barr's Park to Victoria Park and then after that it is a another prize-giving event and a party with live music at Victoria Park. At colors this morning Mr Allman said that we all have to be here on the ship by 17:15 to prepare for the parade. Asekho, Helen, Dayana and I went to the Crew's center where there is free internet, any type of cool drinks your heart's desire plus those free 20dollar phone cards which I immediately used when I got there. We stayed there till almost past lunch tine and came back to the ship to pick up Marx because he had port-suspension for a totally unfair reason. We went off to go to have something to eat at this restaurant just down the street, and it was very delicious and so unlike Andy's (our cook's) food. Then we went back to the Trainee's Center so that Marx could contact his parents. After that we just walked around until 5pm. We all had to wear CAF uniforms and we walked to Barr's Park where all the trainees from the various other tall ships were and it was pretty intense. So the parade got started and off we marched to Victoria Park. It was fun and we were in the spot light so all the people watched with awe as we marched. When we got to Victoria Park the people of Bermuda Sail Training presented the prizes to all the other tall ships and then after a short presentation, the party started. We did not stay, but we returned later at 10pm and then came back to the ship before curfew at midnight.

Head of School Update - Bermuda

Concordia Arrives in Bermuda!

Dear Friends and Families,

Concordia has arrived in Bermuda! The vessel made great speed from Trinidad and arrived late last night in St. Georges. The vessel is moving this morning to Front Street in Hamilton where she will remain over the weekend.

Concordia will sail again on Monday.Some highlights of the past sail include Mitchel's crowning as the new Ms. Concordia and a swim call for the crew! Oral exams were also completed and final written exams will take place on the sail to Grand Manan.Bermuda is part of the Tall Ship Atlantic Challenge 2009 series and the weekend is jam-packed with sports events, festivals, food and great inter-crew opportunities. This is an incredible chance for our crew to visit and tour other tall ships, meet other tall ship crews and take a great deal of pride in being the crew of Concordia as we are considered a featured vessel in the festival.

Attached is a map of Hamilton harbour and list of the vessels in attendance this weekend!

We will, sadly, need to say good-bye to our South African crew mates here in Bermuda. They will fly home on Monday with, we hope, wonderful memories of their time aboard Concordia and a great deal of personal and global learning in their wake. It has been a pleasure to have them aboard and we wish all of them the very best for the future!

There will be one new crew member joining the vessel to sail from Bermuda to Grand Manan. Adam Goodwin is a Floatie alum from 2005-2006 who is a native Bermudian and who has spent the three years since he graduated from Class Afloat pursuing a mariner career. Adam will be working on deck daily with the crew to help prepare the vessel for Lunenburg and will be an invaluable resource to students in the debrief process. Adam is quiet but confident and when you get him talking he is articulate and able to make deep connections between his experiences aboard Concordia and his path since returning to "real life". Students will be encouraged to talk with him, individually and in small groups, about life after Class Afloat, transitioning home etc. and we hope that his presence will add a unique element, together with our Bosun's Mate Axel who is an alum from 2002-2003, to the student debrief. Adam will disembark in Grand Manan and the crew will complete their voyage to Lunenburg as a core family group.

Have a great weekend! Only 14 sleeps until Concordia arrives in Lunenburg!

Cheers,Kate

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 12th June Bermuda

12th of June 2009 - Gustav Michael Allmann

Today was a day I think everybody will remember for the rest of their lives as the day we arrived in Hamilton, Bermuda, the most beautiful and exciting of ports. Before we moored we were waiting on another ship to make space for us between some of the other many huge and beautiful tallships. During this time we just admired the other ships and views. Finally we were allowed to go in. We moored up against the Europa which was really cool. Its a magnificent ship and I personally feel lucky that were allowed to moore next to it.

There are four South Africans on board the Europa. After we finished on deck we met in the mess to be briefed about all the facilities offered to us like free access into museums, aquariums and to an internet cafe. We were then awarded shoreleave until our new midnight curfew. This extra hour makes a huge difference. Its really cool. Once we all left the ship we split up into our groups and made our way to either one of the following: restaurant for proper food, bank, phones and the nearest beach.

Everybody returned to the ship exhausted but extatic with excitement for the following days in this beautiful port. This is by far the best way to finish of this once in a lifetime experience. Its exciting and depressing at the same time for the South Africans because we are having an awesome time but it is the end and we have to leave the ship...

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 11th June 2009 - Leg 5 Trinidad to Bermuda

11th June - Preparing for Arrival in Bermuda - Marx
11th of June 2009

The day started of with a raw, we had very little wind so we were motoring.

Today was captains clean, the day the ship gets scrubbed from head to toe. I was on galley today and very tired, but the galley had to be cleaned. So we started mid day and it took us 4 hours. It was horrific we scrubbed, bleached and scrubbed some more. The galley was so dirty it was really something to get it clean, we found things that we wish we never did and saw things that will scar us for life, but after 4 hours is was spotless clean and the only things still alive inside the galley was the crew.

After that everyone went outside and had a tan, and before we knew it we were preparing the boat to dock in St. Georges. We docked at 9pm and got cleared by customs by 10pm and then we got shore leave for 2 hours. It was really fun and nice to be on land again, unfortunately everything was closed except one local pub, where we all just sat around for 2 hours before returning to the ship to get some rest for a early departure.

Some of us were so excited that we did not sleep that night.

Only 4 more days till we fly home!

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 10th June 2009 - Leg 5 Trinidad to Bermuda

10th of June 2009 - Felix

Our course is: 017
Wind direction: 3/ SSW
Speed: 7.5 kn
Temperature: 28°C
Lat: 29°32 N
Lon: 65°13

Today I had galley, that meant no watch for me. We had cereals and oatmeal to serve for breakfast. The Canadians finished their exams today, and most of us are also done with their schoolwork. Later during the day we had a swimcall. It was the first swimcall out in the open ocean for the South Africans and we were all excited. We had a lot of fun jumping off the bowsprit and swimming in the middle of the ocean.

After the swimcall me and a few others just layed in the sun on the mizzen deck.

This evening after dinner we had le CAFF, the Class Afloat Film Festival, which started after we had a small debriefing about the time on the ship and what the challenges for the South Africans and the Canadians were. At le CAFF a couple of students presented videos they took by themselves. They were very funny, especially the one from Antoine and 2 teachers, about Zombies on the Concordia, in which I played one of the Zombies. The day was really cool and I had a lot of fun.

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 9th June 2009 - Leg 5 Trinidad to Bermuda

9th of June 2009 - Bryan

Course: 010°
Speed: 8.8knots
Wind direction: 4/ESE
Temperature: 26°C
Lat: 26°27.8N
Long: 65°51.79W

Today was another usual day aboard the ship, only now, so close to the end of our voyage, many of us are thinking of the excitement of going home and the sadness of leaving CAF.

The sea was a gem-like blue today, the sun shining and the music was playing. The South Africans had class as usual while the rest of the students had the oral exams... SO glad we don't have to do our exams! In our free time, either we socialized, slept or helped out on deck to get everything ready for our much anticipated arrival in Bermuda.

Helping involved 'rust busting', grinding and priming, while I was allowed to go aloft and tie wire around all the shackles that didn't have any on. It was a great job, but I'm sure if my mom saw, she wouldn't approve of the precarious positions and the ways in which I was held up either by just a hand or just dangling attached to a piece of rope...it was great! And even better was that it gave me a workout at the same time!

Other than that, it was an ordinary day, but in the evening, the Design class presented their portfolios; which were basically their impressions, memories and what they got out of CAF.

Some were funny, some more serious and moving, but all was incredible! A lot of us were crying by the end, but they were definitely worth watching.

So it was an awesome day and everyone is making the most of their last few fleeting days. I only wish this trip was longer, even though I am excited to get back home...

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 8th June 2009 - Leg 5 Trinidad to Bermuda

8th of June 2009 - Asekho

Speed: 10,5 kn
Wind: East 3
Longitude: 065 52 w
Latitude: 21 30,4N
Point of sail: broad reach
Sea: 3

Today we started our day the normal way, but at colors the Captain made an announcement about the program of Bermuda (International Tall Ship race). After colors, I had cleaning station and went to class. The day started slow until I had my day watch, today we had a party during day watch while Bryan and Brandon were burning in the galley. Gustav, Monde and Shane were painting the ship during day watch and they immediately stopped when the party started because me and Axel were entertaining them by our good dancing moves. People started coming out to watch us and we enjoyed it. After that I had my free two hours before my navigation watch. In mine I was with Gustav and Shane, who was doing well in helming and our speed raised. I again chilled for two hours then had my night watch and went to bed. This was a good day for all of us because of the news we had in the morning.

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 7th June 2009 - Leg 5 Trinidad to Bermuda

7th of June 2009 - Brandon Schoor
(no logbook for 2 days, only getting new one tomorrow)

Today was another school day on the ship but it was exams reviews for the Canadians but normal school day for us. This meant we had more free time because everyone only had one hour nav. watch and one hour day watch so that was cool. All of the team members enjoyed this day because everyone used their free time to catch up on some sleep and so did I and I'm looking forward to another day on the S.V Concordia...
Since it's the last few days for the team SA on the Concordia some of the team members are so excited to get back home and some does want to go home but they also don’t want to leave behind what they have now and that's how I feel and a few others but we enjoying every moment since its going to be our last...

TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 6th June 2009 - Leg 5 Trinidad to Bermuda

6th of June 2009 - Monde

Latitude: 21 11.67 n
Longitude: 65 20 31 w Temperature: 28 degrees ,
closest port is the Virgin islands
Our average speed is 8. 1 nautical miles

Today was an interesting day. Yes, we did the same watches but at different times, it's preparations for examinations for the Canadians, so the schedule is slightly inconsistent. Another intriguing part about this day is that it's the long awaited Miss Concordia. You could see it in the companion way, the boys were being pampered, the make up was daring especially Gustav's.

Some did look a bit horrific like my dear friend Asekho - no offense but he really looked like a mime artist or a crocodile with make up, but he did pay it up by his provocative dancing moves that dazzled the judges and made the deliberation on who will be Miss Concordia a bit difficult. I cannot go on without mentioning Brandon or should I say Belinda his girl's name. We were all honored with princess names, mine was Mona Lisa. Belinda was yet another highlight with his belly dancing and crude shorts that disturbed especially judge Mr. Hurley. As for me, I came on second place with Asekho. I must say I looked fierce all thanks to my German glam squad .

The night was divided in 4 sessions: there was evening wear, interview, bathing suit and talent. I think all of these were fully executed by the girls for the night, considering that none of us had any practice in that field, well except for Mitchel, who stole the show but however I thought they gave it to him because it was a bit personal to him but hey no hard feelings. We ended the night with some high adrenalin sailing maneuvers as we took advantage of the good mood we all were on.

Its now 9 days till home, it' s insanely unbelievable! It all went so fast, it's sad for the amazing people we met, but it won't be the last time we meet and certainly not the last for us the South African team.

It has been a bon voyage - Thank you Cape Windjammers!