New answers received from Concordia by 4/8/96
:What was the worst storm that you have ever been through and what problems did you have? ... Josh and David, Farmingdale, NY
Answered by Cassandra Ruff -- 4/03/96
So far we've been really lucky weather-wise and the Concordia hasn't been through too many storms yet this semester. While sailing from Durban, South Africa to Perth, Australia we were supposed to have very rough seas along what they call the roaring 40's. However, when we got there we only experienced moderate weather, compared to our sail from Perth to Adelaide. On our sail from Perth to Adelaide is where I think we experienced the roughest seas so far. There were high winds, up to 30 knots, and by far the biggest waves I've ever seen. They came crashing over one side of the ship right across to the other. During these few days of stormy weather we had a few scares. One night a couple of students got swept across the deck by a big wave. Luckily they had their safety harnesses on and no damage was done. Our sail from Adelaide to Hobart was also supposed to be quite rough but it ended up being the calmest waters yet. We motored practically the entire time because of the lack of wind. Hopefully it will remain that way, but we've got a lot left to sail.
:How would you deal with a natural disaster like a hurricane? ...Ms. Kauffman’s Class, Gladwyne, PA
Answered by Colin Vogler-- 4/3/96
During rough, dangerous weather the sails are kept furled. When the sails are furled, there is little sail surface area for the wind to blow around. Safety lines are also tied across amidships from fore house to the aft one. The line provides a continuous railing along the length of the deck for people to grasp when needed. In extremely rough stormy weather students and staff are required to wear a harness at all times on deck. The harness is clipped to the safety line. Then if large waves douse the deck, whoever is on deck will not be washed overboard. In extreme conditions all the doors are shut and no one is allowed on deck. Also all the dishes and cups are tied down to make sure they don't fly across the floor and beam somebody in the leg.
:How do you wash your clothes? ... Oak Ridge School, Santa Anna, CA
Answered by J.P. Pellitier -- 4/3/96
Most of the time on short sails, we wait until the next port and go to a Laundromat. But on longer crossings, like going across the Indian Ocean, we have do wash our clothes by hand. We can wash our clothes either in the sink in our room or in the laundry room which has four large tubs for washing clothes. To dry our clothes, if the weather permits it and if it does not disturb sailing maneuvers, we hang our clothes on the deck. When that is not possible, we must hang our clothes up in our cabins, which takes a long time to dry and a lot of space.
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