April 9th, 2006

So, we had our second T/V Kings Pointer trip this past week.  We participated in anchoring drills and worked on parallel indexing, which involves using the dreaded Radar.  My watch team had the 12-4 watch this time.  This means we were on watch from 12pm-4pm and 12am-4am.  Most people feel this watch is horrible, but I actually don't mind it as I would rather stay up late and get up later in the morning than have to get up early in the morning.  I guess though I'm gonna have to get up early next time as I will have the 4-8 watch in two weeks.  Anyway, other than some confusion with the watch times, the trip went fairly well.  During the parallel indexing drills, we had to compete with a bunch of crab or lobster pots.  Was interesting trying to make a turn while simultaneously weaving around pots.  A typical command went like this:  "Right 10 degree rudder.  Oh wait, no left 5 degree rudder.  Well crap...make that right 20 degree rudder.  Ahhhh...well...hopefully they didn't need that crab pot anyway.  Just come to course 315 degrees."  Meanwhile the helmsman was repeating each of these commands.  The quartermaster ended up just righting V/C/S (variable course and speed) every time we had to make a turn.  It was very confusing none the less.

Along with the cruise, we had another day of firefighting in Earle, New Jersey.  It was a fun day and this time we actually got to go into a smoke-filled room with breathing apparatus's on and have that "wonderful" experience.  As I said to a few friends back home...it was interesting to do, but not something that I would put high on my priority list of things to do in the future.  Anyway, unfortunately because we were near open flames, I decided to not bring the camera with me this time as I was afraid it would melt.  Therefore, there are no pictures from that.  There is a possibility that somebody else had their camera, so I'm gonna check with him.  If he got any pictures I'll add them to next weeks page.  Anyway, that's about it for this week.  We have our big midterm next week, so it's time to start studying. 

Here's the gang suiting up for a hard day of firefighting in Earle, New Jersey. *Photo by Marc.

Here's Matt and two others up on the deck fighting the fire. *Photo by Marc.

Fighting the fire with a fog spray.  It provides a barrier of water between us and the fire. *Photo by Marc.

And here's the fire after it has been put out by smothering with foam.  Good job all!!! *Photo by Marc

Either it's quite rough out there and everybody is feeling a little seasick.....or we're doing anchoring drills.

Man, cleaning the boat would be so much easier if we had a fire hose.  I mean, just think...a few blasts and the King's Pride would be completely clean.  We may sink the boat with that much water, but it would be clean.

Phoebe at the anchor controls.  She looks very intent on watching those hand signals.

This is what it looks like when the anchor comes up in the wrong direction.  Took us a few times to get it turned around so it would fit in the hawse pipe correctly.

Chad, Megan and somebody in orange pants (sorry, can't tell who you are, let me know) hosing down the anchor.  Kind of a pretty picture with the sun going down in the background.

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