Maine Maritime Academy - Tricks End Yearbook (Castine, ME)

Page 121 text:

FLORIDA CUBA 4 ARUBA SOUTH AMERICA 117

Page 120 text:

SECCND OPHO CRE CRUISE A steady cloud of black smoke was the iinal wave from the T.V. State of Maine as she left Castine on her first of the two cruises indoctrinated into this yearis curriculum. With the sen- iors at sea accompanied by half of each of the two lower classes, we, being juniors now, commenced on a new semester which, by the way, was the Hrst time in recent years that classes had been conducted during the months of January, February and March. Those two cold, snow-filled months Went by swiftly and it seemed like in no time at all the ship was returning with a shipload of tired, sun-burned Middies, regretful of the fact that their Caribbean tans would soon fade under their winter uniforms and union-suits. As the ship neared its berth on the wateris edge of the thriving metrop- olis of historic Castine, parents and friends waved a hearty welcome home to these salty Midshipmen. Coffee and doughnuts were served by the Castine Civic Club for all visitors in keeping with tradition. The refresh- ments were soon devoured willingly by the shipboard personnel. Much confusion and anxiety was displayed on the gangway and after many patient hours of waiting at the foot of the gangway, the second cruise party boarded and attempted to get squared away. It seemed like no time at all before we were sailing down the Bagaduce in search of Puerto Rico. GALVESTON MEXICO s k

Page 122 text:

Bomb szght set, sir, Bombs away - St. Thomas ST. THOMAS The day after we set sail from Castine, we were accompanied by near disaster fagainj as a stack fire immobilized us for several hours oif the coast of Portland. The seriousness of the fire was evident but thanks to the first class training we had had in preparation for an emergency of this sort, the dilemma was quickly extinguished. A few days later we entered San Iuan, Puerto Rico and prepara- tions were made to bunker fuel oil and also to recharge all the fire extinguishers we used fighting the fire. After a half day in port, we sailed for the Virgin Islands and our lirst liberty port, St. Thomas. Charlotte Amalie was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful ports we had ever encountered and it was here that many a Middie promised to return some day. l Most of us rented cars for transportation about the island and hit such memorable places as Magan's Bay, the Pineapple Beach Club, and the famous Blackbeard,s Castle. Six of us were lucky enough to run into one of America's foremost multi-millionaires who threw a S400 bash for us at the F lambuoyant Hotel. When we finally freed ourselves from the mud on the bottom of the shallow, crystal green harbor, we departed with an exchange of courtesies to the Naval Long Beach and our bow set for the British West Indies. 'It's a tasting party. I still think that's a lot to charge iust to pose with me O Connor 118