We got underway this morning around 0800 and headed back out to sea. I was on mooring stations on the stern, and we were definitely feeling the effects of the cold front that came through Tampa at that hour this morning! I had a hat, coat and gloves on and was still cold out on …

Our visit to Tampa is officially over. Liberty expired tonight at 2200 for sophomores, and 2100 for freshmen. It’s been chilly for Florida the past couple of days, with daytime temperatures in the 50′s, and last night the temperature was forecasted to get down to 29 degrees! We’ll be casting off at 0800 tomorrow morning, …

I’m writing from the John F. Germany Public Library in Tampa with 2/C Balcunas, checking e-mail and other various Internet items.  It’s cold here today (54 degrees Fahrenheit) so it’s a good day to do indoor things. Tampa has been a pretty mellow port for me so far.  Sunday my grandfather and partner came up …

As I’m writing this, we’re passing Cape Hatteras, and the ship is definitely pitching and rolling! We’re expecting 9-12 foot seas and winds steady at 35kts with gusts up to 45kts. I have watch 0000-0400/1200-1600 Wednesday and Thursday, so I’ll be on the helm as we move south of Hatteras tonight, which I’m pretty excited …

I thought I should make a quick info post with a few things I’ve thought of. First off, I will be using SPOT throughout the voyage to provide people back home with position updates in real-time. However, I do not have a place to put it on the ship that would allow it to be …

As I’m writing this we’re headed due south out of New York Harbor, passing Barnegat Inlet. We’re making about 15 knots, and the seas are relatively calm. I’m laying in my rack, being gently rocked by the ocean, which is an awesome sleep inducer. However, I’m determined to make a blog post and fire off …

I’m in my rack, about to get up to get dressed for watch. I have watch 0800-1200/2000-0000 today, so I’ll be on the bridge while we’re leaving the pier and heading out to sea! I’m pretty excited about it, but a little nervous since I’ll be the first sophomore handling the underway log books this …

It’s Thursday night, and we’ve only got two full days left in Buzzards Bay before casting off lines and heading south.  We’re doing very well in preparations for departure, with only a couple of major things left on the to-do list.  On-load was finished today, with the arrival of 200 gallons of milk.  We’re now …

I’m laying in my rack as I write this, after a long, exhausting day.  I got lucky with my rack assignment, and am at the end of one of the upper holds, in an area with a lot of space in the aisle (a very rare commodity on board), and I’m on the bottom.  As …

We’re now officially less than 12 hours away from the start of Sea Term 2009.  At this time tomorrow morning, the freshmen will be checking in and starting their first briefing of Sea Term in Admirals Hall.  A few hours after that, the ship will be alive with cadets moving in and starting the immense …