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| CASTINE (NEWS CENTER) -- Maine Maritime
Academy's annual training voyage left Castine Wednesday. Nearly 200 students
and 55 crew members began the 60-day 12,000 nautical mile voyage. The ship
will travel to Florida, Puerto Rico, and Newfoundland.
M.M.A. Officials say there is no comparison to this hands on experience for the students. Family and friends were on hand to say their goodbyes -- not only to the students, but the staff too. Mary Bailey, Captain Larry Wade's daughter, said, "He loves teaching his knowledge of the sea to other kids. And he is so excited about the little boats that are on board. He has gone and watch them all do their test sails. He just really enjoys teaching that love of going to sea." |
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| At the end of the trip the ship stops in
Rockland to pick up the parents of the seniors for the last leg home to
Castine.
The crew has an additional task this year. High school and elementary students have been working on fiberglass sailboats to go along on the trip. Five of the little ships left Wednesday on board the State of Maine. Each one is equipped with a GPS system. M.M.A. Crews will drop the boats off in 5 different ocean areas. Throughout each vessel's voyage, the public can log on to monitor the course, position, speed and even wave height over the internet. |
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| Richard Baldwin, from
Educational Passages, said, "These boats do nothing but sail straight down
wind. So, it gives us a great chance to study wind patterns and currents.
The one we're going to drop off in the Azores will duplicate Columbus's
route more or less. Some of the old explorers. Those old ships sailed with
the wind and currents and that is exactly what this one will do too."
Baldwin is expecting to hear from people who come in contact with the ships along the way. 5 schools and groups from Waldo County helped with getting the little ships ready are will study the progress. NEWS CENTER |
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Posted By: Priya Sridhar, Multimedia Journalist
Broadcast: 03 April 2009
| BELFAST (NEWS CENTER) -- -- Students at the Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast are getting a first hand education on navigation and science with the help of a tiny boat they received through the program Educational Passages. | |
| The 4.5 foot unsinkable boat is equipped with a GPS device
that will allow the students to track its journey in the Atlantic Ocean. The
boat will be released by a Maine Maritime Academy training vessel in May. Schools in Castine, Camden and Old Town also received a boat. Each boat costs $500 and students are hoping that local businesses will help sponsor their boat. |
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| "They can realize they can become part of
things like that and they don't just have to be in the classroom and learn
from a text book. They can go beyond that and do real life things," said
science teacher, Shane Barker.
When the boats are released next month you can follow their journey at: http://www.educationalpassages.com/ |
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| For More Information Contact: Educational Passage 415 Lincolnville Avenue, Belfast, ME 04915 Tel: (207) 338-4087 Internet: Richard.Baldwin@EducationalPassages.com |
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Send mail to
Richard.Baldwin@EducationalPassages.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
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