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Tall Ship Eagle2/c Evan Richter
Today I took a group of three swabs to the upper, top gallant, and royal yardarms on the foremast to prepare each respective sail to be set. This marked the second time in my cadet career that I climbed the 140 feet to the royals and the first time I had done so underway (my first time was in port while Eagle was moored to a San Francisco pier). I am normally an adventurous individual and usually have no problem with heights. There is a difference, however, between climbing in a rock gym with a person tending the line attached to a harness versus climbing on slippery rigging attached to a ship that is rocking back and forth. Needless to say, I knew the consequences of a misstep.
This climb placed me in a different position than my last transit to the royal. Last year, I was accompanied by a crew member and friends who climbed like they were born of monkeys. Today, a year later, my role reversed and placed me in the position to lead these three swabs, none of whom seemed ecstatic about their journey upward. With some coaching and demonstration from me, each swab made the long climb and stepped gingerly out on the royal yard. Once we untied the ropes holding the sail to the steel yard, we let it fall and watched as the people on deck hauled it the rest of the way until it caught the wind. Then, after a few deep sighs of relief, the four of us made the easier albeit slower transit down to the deck. Once firmly standing on the teak, we looked up and saw the fruits of our labor: Eagle making 11 knots under full sail.
While I was in the rig today, I took a few seconds to reflect on my own experiences as a swab and how I looked up to my cadre and the crew of Eagle. Impressionable as we all were at that point, I had complete trust in their knowledge and abilities. Now, as the cadre with a group of swabs looking to me for support and motivation, I realized how much influence I had. At one point, I looked to the swab next to me in the rig and noticed he was still nervous. I grinned and said, “I just want to let you guys in on a little secret: I’m scared too.” They asked why I didn’t act scared and I told them that I wanted to instill some confidence in their abilities to accomplish a difficult task.
I did not tell them then, but one thing I have realized about cadets and crew climbing in the rig is that we have more control over ourselves than we think. Even though we wear harnesses, we only clip in when we stop moving. While we move, our hands and feet are the only things keeping us attached to the rig. That fact alone is enough to make me realize the trust and confidence I need to have in my own abilities whenever I climb. If, by my example, I helped those three swabs start understanding the grip they have on where they go, what they do, and what they are capable of, then I have done my job successfully.
2/c Richter
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