2004 - Milwaukee to Nassau on Schooner

Denis Sullivan

 September 17, 2004 - Pier Wisconsin dock, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 My wife, Donna, drove me down to Milwaukee.  We were accompanied by our grandson, Tristan.  It was a beautiful, warm day, and the drive was uneventful.  The Pier Wisconsin area was very busy.  PW is building a new, permanent home and the entire area is one massive construction project.  In fact, the remaining PW buildings are to be torn down with in a day or two of the Sullivan's departure.  There was a lot of activity with the crew prepping the ship for departure.  In addition, they were expecting a visit from the Governor's wife, so there were preparations being made for that.

 We had a few, brief introductions and then Donna, Tristan and I were given a tour of the ship.  It was very abbreviated because of the frenzy of activity.  I had hoped to be able to give Tristan more time to explore the ship as he is very interested in such things, but it just didn't work out.  Finally, we decided to get out of the way and the three of us went over to a nearby restaurant, the Pieces of Eight, for lunch.  We had a pleasant meal sitting out on the patio overlooking the water.  Neither Donna nor I were eager to say goodbye, but the time finally came when we had to.  As Donna and Tristan drove out of the parking lot, I headed back to the Sullivan to stow my gear, settle in, and to help with the preparations for departure.  I had a bit of a lump in my throat knowing that I would not see them again for two months.

 After an afternoon of settling in and meeting several of the others who would be aboard, I attended a dockside party being given to celebrate the Sullivan's upcoming voyage.  It was attended by the Sullivan crew and many of the movers and shakers involved in the Pier Wisconsin project.  There was a Wisconsin-style buffet with brats, potato salad, and all the trimmings.  Atmosphere was provided by a salty-looking fellow singing sea chanteys, and this was followed by all of the laudatory and optimistic speeches that normally accompany such events.  A good time was had by all.  It was a nice affair, but I was tired after a very early morning rise, so I left early and went to bed at about 2100.

Departure Party Entertainment

 September 18, 2004 - Underway, Lake Michigan

 After a surprisingly good night of sleep, I arose at 0600.  Breakfast was at 0715, and this was further opportunity to get to know my ship mates.  One of the most important people on board is the cook.  A good cook does a great deal for morale when conditions become challenging.  At this point we had two cooks.  Steve had been aboard for several months and was about to take leave at our next stop, Alpena, Michigan.  He was accompanied by Emily, who had just come aboard and who would be our cook for the duration of the trip south.

 It was a beautiful, sunny day with warm temperatures.  Four or five additional volunteers came aboard after breakfast.  In addition, our skipper, John Lorenz, came aboard.  Sadly, he had just returned from his father's funeral in the Detroit area.  We departed the dock at 0915 under power.  Winds were very light and we continued to power out through the harbor entry and into the lake.  Skipper John gave a very professional speech about what he expected of the crew and what we should expect of him.  I was very impressed by John.  He is one of those people who is a natural leader.  The rest of the professional crew are men and women who seem to be between the age of twenty and thirty.  All seem to be nice folks who enjoy what they are doing.  Most are college graduates.

 The wind came up in mid-morning, and we soon set all sail, including the topsails and the raffee, a triangular sail set like a square sail, but with the yard below, rather than above, the sail.  We moved along at about seven knots in sunny, warm weather all day.  My watch group (Group A) was on from 0800 to 1300, and again from 2300 to 0300.  Watches run as follows: 0800 to 1300, 1300 to 1800, 1800 to 2300, 2300 to 0300, 0300 to 0800.  With three watch groups, this allows us to rotate so that we have the same watch only once in three days.  Thus, the dreaded dead-man's watch (2300 to 0300), which is shortened to only four hours instead of the usual five, comes around only every third day.  My group consists of Dave the watch captain (and also first mate), Rolf, Eldie, Dan W. and me.  Rolf and Elvie are husband and wife and are aboard only to Alpena, during which time they will be doing a lot of filming of the trip.  Dave and Dan W. are professional crew.

 Much of the afternoon was spent on man-overboard drills, fire drills, and abandon ship drills.  Each of us has an assigned duty on the occasion of any of these hope-they-will-never-happen events.  These drills are taken very seriously as they are not just theoretical situations.  They happen, and our lives and the lives of our mates depend on the proper execution of our individual roles in these emergencies.

 I took a nap after supper prior to taking the 2300 to 0300 watch.  The winds dropped a bit in the evening, so we motor sailed much of the night.  It turned quite chilly with the setting sun, requiring the donning of warmer clothes.

Lovely first day on Lake Michigan

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