The Iconic Ship Docked at Portland Yacht Services This Afternoon, 100 Commercial Street, Portland.  The Crew was “Battening Down the Hatches” in Preparation for the Arrival of Hurricane Henri Tomorrow Sometime.

Chef Tyler ? for the Harvey Gamage Seen Stocking up on Food Supplies for the Crew for the Next Few Days.  The Crew Lives Aboard the Gamage. Sea Cadets Said the Food Aboard the Gamage was “Outstanding.”  “It’s a Lot of Work to Feed These Young, Hardworking Cadets,” said Tyler.

Captain Pamela Coughlin, of the Harvey Gamage, at Her Launching at Portland Yacht Services, 100 Commercial Street, Earlier This Summer.

Kim Canu, Escort Officer for the Sea Cadets With Her Son Chief Matteo Canu., in Charge of All the Cadets.

Emma Davila (L) with Her Older Brother Mathew Were Greeted by Their Parents Tatyana and Gilberto Davila, Jr. Who Drove up From Carmel, New York to Meet the Gamage This Afternoon.

” I didn’t know it would be so great,” said Matthew Davila, 15, who had just disembarked from a week aboard the historic Harvey Gamage at Portland Yacht Services this afternoon.  “I had no idea how much was involved in sailing.  It’s complicated.”

With him aboard the Gamage was his younger sister, Emma, just as enthusiastic about the training week they just completed together.  Both in the  Sea Cadets, they were part of a training week chartered by the US Naval Sea Cadets.

When he first stepped aboard the Gamage a week ago today, he knew it would be a “good time.” Everything was new for Matthew and that was part of the appeal for him.  “I first thought it would be more about books and lectures than it was.  It turned out to be more hands-on and that’s why I loved it.”  Emma, 14, said she is interested in pursuing science  with the intent of majoring in marine biology.  “I want to help animals,” she said.  “We saw several whales and lots of seals this week.”

“This is a week they will remember for the rest of their lives,” said Gilberto Davila, Jr. dad to the two. who drove up from New York to meet the Gamage. “In these close quarters, if they got along, they will always get along,” he said laughing.

Another Sea Cadet Maren Kneeland said the training voyage encountered 2 – 3 days of heavy seas.  Waves were 5 – to 10 feet forcing the Gamage to find refuge from the storm Fred in Harpswell Harbor.  It’s a very protected Harbor where the Gamage spent less than twelve hours avoiding Fred. It’s so protected that some of the Sea Cadets thought they are in a River, rather than a Harbor. Several of the 22 cadets got sea sick because of the rough seas. The voyage took the cadets 65 nautical miles off the coast of Maine.

Chief Petty Officer, Matteo Canu, 17, is charged with making sure the cadets and crew have everything they need. Following the voyage he prepares an evaluation of each of the Sea Cadets as a teaching tool.  “Adapting to the new environment and new cadets is the biggest challenge for the Sea Cadets,” Canu said.  During the Hurricane Fred, the crew had to take down one sail which would otherwise have been too strong for the Gamage. On another occasion, a line on a jib got loose and it had to be recaptured before the crew lost total control of it.

“We were on board the Gamage for basic training and got advanced training instead, said Petty Officer Canu.  “We were allowed to make mistakes without being ridiculed and criticized by the crew.  They were patient and ready to teach and ready to turn anything they could into a teaching moment.  My only complaint was it wasn’t long enough.”

“Training on the water is very different than training on land.  Such close quarters teaches Cadets to respect others space,” said Kim Canu, Escort Officer.  “We will return next year.”

The historic Havey Gamage is owned by Cape Elizabeth resident Phin Sprague, Jr. and can be chartered through his non-profit, Sailingshipsmaine.org or call 207 – 405-8485 for more information.  Alex Agnew, is Executive Director of the non-profit.