Life On Board

LIFE on BOARD

To celebrate the new century, the American Sail Training Association is organizing Tall Ships 2000®. As a member of ASTA, the Schooner LARINDA will take part in these exciting events at various ports along the East Coast, from Norfolk to Nova Scotia.

Life on board is all about equality. Everyone shares the tasks from steering and sail handling to helping in the galley and cleaning the ship, but the keyword is FUN. We will have both PASSENGERS and TRAINEES on board. The responsibilities and costs vary for each - you get to choose which is best for you. Please turn to the FAQ page for costs. We expect to have passengers throughout the summer and since the space is limited, berths will be assigned as the applications with deposits are received. The passengers or trainees may be any age from 15 and up. Young at heart is the main requirement.

LARINDA is Larry and Marlene's home away from home and you are a guest in their home as well as a passenger. But, as expectations and duties in various homes are different, so are expectations on various ships. LARINDA is a non-smoking, drug free and non-swearing vessel. All aboard are expected to be professional in attitude, personal appearance and hygiene with not only the public, but also with fellow crew members. We expect that you will bring your own personal gear, including a sleeping bag (see shipping out list), but in the morning, all your gear should be picked up and stowed away, including sleeping bags.

There are certain duties that will be required of the trainees and for which the passengers may volunteer if they desire. The following are some of them.

We like to keep the LARINDA ship-shape, so every morning, the main deck is washed down, dew is wiped off the rails and the lines straightened up. Also the sole of the ship, fore to aft, is vacuumed and wiped down with a solution of Murphy's oil and water. Sometimes we do all this again when we enter port.
Towel or laundry drying topsides is not allowed. This can be done in the main salon when visitors are not expected.
Help is needed to run and sail the ship. For example, raising the sails, raising the anchor, assisting in tying up to or leaving a dock and helping with the steering and lookout positions. However, please remember, the pilothouse is a busy area underway, so only the helmsman and navigator are allowed in there then. Others can be outside to the rear of the doors to the pilothouse or on the main deck.
While underway, watch duties will be posted for the trainees.
For meal preparation, the cook cooks but doesn't do dishes. Two or three of the trainees do the cleaning up. Any of the passengers or the trainees that so desires, may volunteer to prepare their special meal for the enjoyment of all.
In port, we usually like to raise various flags and pennants after tying up.
There are times that the public is allowed to board and the trainees will help with ship interpretation.

Finally, at the Colors ceremony every evening, we all stand at attention, no talking and salute while the ensign is lowered, folded and handed to the captain. This flag is the symbol of America where our freedoms make this entire experience possible.

Site Design provided by T.Trites
Sirius Designs
tina@greenginger.com