Q&A with Concordia from the week ending November 1, 1996
How do you feel about using the engine to sail when you are aboard such a fine sailing ship? Mr. Cusak's Class, Northholm Grammar School, Sydney, Australia
by Sean Hogue, 11/01/96
Sailing is great but sometimes the wind dies and we are forced to motor. Although it would be great to just sit around and wait for a good wind to get us going, there are a few other factors to consider. First, we are on a pretty tight schedule so we don't have the time to wait for wind. Second, we could be in the doldrums, which is a region of no wind. Or, we could be heading into an oncoming wind and we would be pushed back or might float in the same place forever. So while we in no way favor the engines, or even really like using them, they are a necessary part of the ship.
Our school has a two day schedule. On day one, I have six one-hour classes and on day two I have five one-hour classes. The classes that are offered are physical education, math, journalism, marine biology, social studies, anthropology and behavioral studies. We also have time between classes where we do day watch which in its own way is also like a class. During day watch we learn about the ship by doing various hands-on tasks. Angela, our day watch leader, gives us various jobs around the ship to do during that time. Sometimes, we do rust busting or painting, other times we do sail maneuvers. It seems that from the time we get up to the time we go to bed we are very busy doing school work or working on the ship.
Every person on the ship is considered part of the crew. The student crew is selected through an application process and a final interview. When a student wants to go on Class Afloat they contact the head office of West Island College in Montreal, Canada. An application package is sent to the student by the office which consists of a medical report (to see if you are healthy), teacher recommendation forms, a swim test form and a form requesting your school marks. When you return all this information you must also include an essay about one of the countries that Class Afloat will be visiting. This concludes the application process. Once the head office has confirmed your application, the next step is an interview with the admissions staff of Class Afloat. At the interview you are asked questions about why you want to go on Class Afloat as well as questions about yourself. When the interview process is over, the next step is to wait to see if you have been accepted. Class Afloat confirms your acceptance by mail and then you are a member of the crew!
Ocean
Challenge / e-mail: ocean@oceanchallenge.com
/ Class Afloat 1996-97
(c) 1996 Ocean Challenge, Inc.