EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s a story from June (during the Pioneer’s server upgrade) that didn’t get posted, and tells the story of this storied ship. After an incredible 161-day summer deployment, the USCG Barque Eagle returned to her home port in New London, CT onThis historic voyage marked Eagle’s first trip to the West Coast since 2008, and what a journey it was! During the five-month patrol, Eagle transited the Panama Canal twice and made port calls in Costa Rica, Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, and Panama. The crew proudly represented the Coast Guard at major events like LA Fleet Week and the Portland Rose Festival, hosted numerous public relations events in every port, and provided more than 41,000 public tours. Enjoy!
Story by Romy Carver; Photos by Don Backman
On June 13-16, the USCGC Eagle, a U.S. Coast Guard Barque, was docked at the Port of Astoria. The public was provided a unique opportunity to tour the vessel. Military veterans and emergency responders were given a special earlier tour ahead of the rest of the public. While waiting for entry, we spoke with a trainee. Trainees can be stationed for 2-4 years at sea, and they have a menu of assignments to choose from. Typically they will rotate through 12-week assignments. This particular trainee was from Hawaii and excited to travel to Alaska and other places. He spoke enthusiastically about the myriad of training opportunities, including the Coast Guard Academy and the prestigious Officer Candidate School.
This was his first rotation on a ship. Many of the ship’s 85 person crew are trainees. The ship provides hands-on training in engineering, navigation, and seamanship. There are eight officers who oversee the four departments: operations, deck, engineering, and support. The Eagle operates year round with a permanent crew.
The Eagle was built in 1936 in Germany. After WWII ended, it was one of three German ships the Allied Forces captured as reparations; its name was Horst Wessel. The original logs indicated that she had fired at Allied aircraft. The maiden voyage as a Coast Guard vessel was in 1946. The original German open-cylinder engine was replaced in 1981 with a 16-cylinder design, which was replaced in 2018 by an 8-cylinder 1000 horsepower engine that is more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and enables The Eagle to reach a maximum speed of 14 knots.
Coast Guard cutters are commissioned vessels at least 65 feet long, the Eagle is 295 feet, with accommodations for a permanently assigned crew. The Eagle is also wind powered the old fashioned way, with giant sails. It has over six miles of rigging and 23 sails that allows it to sail at 17 knots (19 miles per hour). The crew and trainees must put on harnesses and climb nearly 150 feet above the waterline to tend the lines and maintain the sails.
The Eagle has some interesting lore. Much of the cutter has been kept in its original glory, with a few nods to technology, such as the big screen TV in the boardroom, which features a polished wood 16’ table and chairs. The table is used for surgery in times of war and is respected and tended to carefully.
At the helm rests the Captain’s Coffin. It is a rich wooden casket on a raised platform with benches on both sides. The legend is that the ship’s original Captain is buried on the ship.
Alex Haley, the famed author of Roots, began his writing career while enlisted in the Coast Guard. He retired in 1959, but spent a week aboard the Eagle as a guest in the early 1970’s, isolated in his room, so he could experience some of what it may have been like for his enslaved ancestors to be aboard slave ships. He wrote part of Roots while aboard The Eagle.
The expression, “don’t get carried away” comes from sailors’ worries about chafed or damaged sails. A shaggy fringe called baggywrinkle, made from old lines, helps prevent chafing of the sails.
The Eagle remains steeped in rich and fascinating tradition.
For more go to: https://uscga.edu/mission/eagle/