Please excuse the delayed update, I and many of those that have never been out to sea before have been busy earning their sea legs. Many people took sea sickness pills beforehand, but when the bow is pitching up and down, it takes some time and fresh air to become adjusted to the motions within the inner ear so they no longer feel nauseous when moving about the vessel. Becoming acclimated to the motion of the ocean happens for most within 24-48 hours, so I am hoping the seasick will be up and moving in no time.
Cadets at formation with the San Francisco skyline in the background
I know it is not ideal to have departed later than anticipated but waking up in the bay and having formation on the helo deck with the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island as the backdrop is truly a wonderful sight to see. We did operational testing prior to leaving anchorage 7. Propulsion was proven on both main engines in ahead an astern directions.
 Captain at the bridge during engine checks while Craig Johnson records results |
 Captain is pointing out different instruments pertinent to naviagtion |
Engines are both ready to go in the ahead direction
After receiving approval of the USCG Captain of the Port, we confirmed all standards to consider the Training Ship Golden Bear fit for intended service and we have finally made it out of the Golden Gate!
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I had the pleasure to meet our San Francisco bar pilot Captain Mark Manes “Unit Mike”. Like our captain, he is a graduate of the Cal Maritime, and was in 1D. He was commodore of the sailing club as well as a coxswain on the crew team. He taught our captain how to single hand a sloop ring! When he graduated from Cal Maritime he worked on dinner ships and ended up transferring to an administrative job which he hated. He decided to be a deck hand on tugboats and worked his way up to captain, which he did for fifteen years. He got into the San Francisco Bar Pilot training program in January of 2010 and completed his training in 2012. He has been a San Francisco bar pilot since. |
| San Francisco Bar Pilot Mark "Unit Mike" Manes |
Captain and Pilot Mark talk about their plans for departure before the ship begins making way
Pilot Mark enlightens a group of cadets
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Not only did we have a Cal Maritime grad help us today, but we have had many alumni help us throughout the process of certifying the ship end ensuring its seaworthiness. It was fantastic to see that the Cal Maritime family persists beyond the years of educational years and moves to the professional industry. Not only is this the camaraderie of Cal Maritime, but it is the relationship between those that have all gone to all maritime colleges. |
| Second mate Complicance officer Beth Neumyer |
Cadet second mate navigation officer Danny Guzman
I also want to recognize and thank Weststar Marine’s ORION which provided a safety standby service to us when we left anchorage while we were conducting final maneuvering tests and to get out of the Gate. The ORION was on her final voyage after a long life of service from San Francisco Bay to Sacramento.
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| Cadet Bill Puttman on the comms speaking with Vessel Traffic Contol (VTC) | Fast Ferry passes by the TSGB while we make way to the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge |
Ship heads under the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge
Going out of the Golden Gate was such a sight to see. We sent a flag salute to the liberty ship Jeremiah O'Brien as we passed them under the gate. The two-letter signal “J” “O” to recognize her name is also the two-letter signal for “I am afloat.” Everyone on the ship cheered when friends and family gathered on the gate with an airhorn sounding the bon voyage. It was quite an emotional moment knowing that all the hard work and the dedication of all those on board for the first two weeks of cruise has led to this momentous departure. And now the fun begins!
Those of us who were up and moving in the evening made our way out to the fan tail
to look to the horizon and feel the cool breeze as the sun set. There was a sense
of camaraderie being built when all the people in their camping chairs sat together
and sang along to songs playing on the speakers. 
Nothing but open seas ahead
As the sun set, the cadet third mate, Colby Glaze informed us the waters were too rough to ensure everyone’s safety in the dark as the bow pitched up and down in the heavy swell and high seas. The relative wind was building to gale strength, so the captain ordered all weather decks secured. For now, the ship's whole crew are to travel about the ship on interior passageways only to ensure our safety while making our way to Seattle.
More to come soon
-Shannon Stel
ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, California State University Maritime Academy is the only degree-granting
maritime academy on the West Coast. Located in Vallejo, California, the campus offers
undergraduate degrees that prepare students for careers in engineering, transportation,
international relations, business, and global logistics. Cal Maritime also offers
a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number
of extended learning programs and courses.