Fair Seas and Following Winds

Register for Fair Seas and Following Winds here!

Interdisciplinary
Instructor: Skia Laurence
5-10 students
Suggested Ages: 15+ years old
Meets: Tuesdays at 2:00 pm, 15 weeks. Starts February 2nd.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Calling lovers of all things nautical. Come, gain some real understanding of the high seas. This is an interdisciplinary survey course that brings together physics, earth sciences, history, music, and folklore, as we dive back in time to age of sail. This course will give you a broader perspective of history and the world we live it and make you a better sailor to boot.

Topics Include:

• A brief survey of historical water craft: What determines how fast they go? How will they do in a storm?
• Why did sails become triangular?
• Looking to the charts: An overview of nautical navigation
• Reading the water — Navigating without chart or map
• Dog Watch: Song, craft and story
• Applied use of the simple machines of physics: Lever, Wheel & Axil, Pulley, Inclined Plane, Wedge, Screw, plus a few useful knots
• Here there be monsters — Creatures of the Sea

Students will be asked to complete short assignments to familiarize themselves with the material and ensure that they are able to explore any questions that arise. In addition, each student will be asked to propose a project which can be shared with the class in a short presentation. The topic and form of this presentation very much depend on your interests and inclination: Will it be a video about scrimshaw, charting a course to the Bahamas, or your take on a Shanty?

Note: This is a 15 week course, scheduled over 16 weeks. There will likely be one day off during the term, which the teacher will announce at the beginning of the course.

Register for Fair Seas and Following Winds here!