Safe, sound and charmed in the Sound

A few days left...

Dear BCSE Participants and Parents,

I trust that you are well and have been enjoying the first few weeks of summer.  I have just returned from a week of sailing on board Misty Blue Yonder (one of our two yachts) in the San Juan Islands, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.  Among other things, we had the opportunity to test MBYs sailing prowess in strong winds under all points of sail, in flat calm powered strictly by the iron genny (aka diesel engine), and going through the locks into Lake Union and Lake Washington right outside of Seattle.  All in all, it was a fantastic week that built my enthusiasm for our upcoming adventure and bolstered my confidence in the boats we will be sailing.  The photos in this post are from this week in the northwest.  If you are interested, you can find a full album at: Andrew Cole Photography Featured Gallery

As you are well aware, the on-campus portion of BCSE kicks-off next week, with classes starting in room 308 at 0900 on Monday, June 21.  If you have not had a chance, be sure to look over the previous blog entry which outlines the information you will need to know for our first day of class.  Don't stress too much about the Aids to Navigation, as we will have a chance to talk about the different buoys in class on Monday.  You should, however, come with a knowledge of the parts of the boat as presented in your student handbook.

Can you name the parts of Misty Blue Yonder in this photo?

A couple of other items:

1) Please bring a copy of your passport to our meeting on Monday.  If you don't have a way to copy it, we can make a copy at school.

2) We will provide light refreshments but you will need to pack a lunch of your own.

3) Class time is incredibly valuable and will greatly enhance your time on the water.  Please make a point of being on time each day.  (We have a special job for those who struggle with punctuality... :)

Enjoy the remainder of your week and weekend.  I look forward to seeing you on Monday for the start of an incredible adventure!

Mr. Cole

Green "can" buoy to be left to port when returning to port - what does it look like on a chart?