Oceanics School

[JP]

Has anyone else here gone to the Oceanics School based out of NYC and sailing around the world on various square-riggers? I went there and graduated high school on the 'Phoenix', an Irish flagged brigantine. It was a fantastic experience and hooked me on working in the merchant marine, been sailing professionally now for over 30 years. Went to Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, TX for thier Ocean Marine Technology (OMT) program to get my AB ticket and from then on, came up the hawsepipe. I recently got my unlimited chief mates license. I'd love to hear from anyone familiar with either the Oceanics or OMT!
JP

[cajuntugster]

hey JP,
i have not heard of it but it sounds like a good thing, in Cincinnati OH. the public school system had a towboat and they had a river vocational school. That was back in late 80's, early 90's so I don't know if it is there anymore.
take care

[chuma]

Yeah that would be me. I too served on the Phoenix and I too went on to become a merchant mariner. 1600 ton ocean master aux sail. But I no longer sail. I did 2 trips on Oceanics fall/winter 77', spring/summer 78'. I am sure you were on that trip too, as it was the only one that used the Phoenix.

[toothgrinder]

I was on the Ariadne and the Phoenix in 1978. I haven't been out to sea since. I've never been in touch with anyone who was on that trip either. I do have some great memories. Brian

[JP]

Hey Brian, Its great to hear from you! I have never stopped sailing since I left the Oceanics. Funny how I hated going out fishing with my dad but after 2 semesters on the Ariadne and then the Phoenix, I just never wanted to do anything else. Too bad the entire maritime field has become so tied up by lawyers and insurance companies who have taken most of the fun out of it. I am still trying to recapture what we all had back then!
Jill (JP)

[toothgrinder]

Hi Jill, It's great to hear from another Oceanics trainee. It's over thirty years ago that we travelled the high seas together. Did you keep in touch with any other kids? I'm guessing the other poster is either Bill or Bobby.

[richard8000milesaway]

On my last rotation home I contacted the Oceanics School about volunteering my time; since I live in Manhattan it seemed like a good way to spend a couple hours a week over in Brooklyn. If nothing else, a captive audience for sea stories.
Good to see graduates on here....

[ah2bahn]

Has anyone else here gone to the Oceanics School based out of NYC and sailing around the world on various square-riggers? I went there and graduated high school on the 'Phoenix', an Irish flagged brigantine. It was a fantastic experience and hooked me on working in the merchant marine, been sailing professionally now for over 30 years. Went to Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, TX for thier Ocean Marine Technology (OMT) program to get my AB ticket and from then on, came up the hawsepipe. I recently got my unlimited chief mates license. I'd love to hear from anyone familiar with either the Oceanics or OMT!
JP

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*** YES! I trained with the original Oceanics school (1970)started by (Chick and Stephanie Gallagher) out of NYC. We trained 1st at Hurricane Island Outward Bound, Maine for 3 weeks and then to Bergen, Norway where we trained for 4 months on The Statsraad Lehmkuhl (three-masted barque) and then sailed to the Ivory coast of Africa with various ports along the way. This was a great venture I will remember all my life! Was surprized to see that Oceanics is alive and well hopefully. Any updates? Thanx, Paul

[JP]

I was also speaking of the school started by Chick and Stephanie. I know they changed the name of the school from the Oceanics to Prince Henry College a year or 2 after I went there in 77-78. I think they completely shut it down a little while after that. I have not been able to find out anything more about it after that. Its too bad, I think it was an excellent program and none of the other ones they have today are even close.
Jill

[toothgrinder]

Jill, So I've gone back and scanned the photos from that trip onto my computer. I'll insert some that you might like. Brian

[toothgrinder]

I created a web site in hopes of discovering some other former Oceanic students or teachers. Here is the web address. http://horse_tooth_floater.tripod.com/oceanicsnyc/

[JP]

Hey Brian,
Thanks for the website and the pictures. Can you send me copies of those pictures?
Jill

[gnken1]

Hey JP Im alittle late in finding your post here. I was an Oceanics Student the first year 1970/71 on the Statsraad Lehmkuhl. I spent my 9th grade year aboard. After High School I served in the Coast Guard 1975-79. I did sail as a R/O on a Singapore Flag General Cargo Vessel Asean Promoter/S6EF, and shortly after landed a job with RCA Global Radio Station WCC/Chatham Radio. I served for 3 years there and saw the future didnt look promising so I left and joined Maryland State Police Communications where I currently serve and plan to retire in December if I can land a federal job Im pursuing. Oceanics was a great experience. Due to my colored blindness my career in the Maritime was limited.

[JP]

I totally agree Oceanics was a great experience. I keep thinking it would be so great if anyone could do something like that today. There are some courses at sea but they are mostly too short and also have a much different focus. I would love to have an Oceanics reunion!! How hard would it be to find everybody???

[WASABIMON]

Hello---
my name is kevin barber and i was in the first oceanics school----outward bound---bergen--stattsraad lemkuhl---please contact me----wasabimon@aol.com---
thanks, kevin

[alexblackphoto@gmail.com]

I loved and will never forget Oceanics. Sailing half way around the world to Russia!!
Anyone have more pictures? I have a few.
Sandor Black
alexblackphoto@gmail.com
I also did the Outward Bound Hurricane Island program in 1980'

[JP]

WOW! This is great to find some people from back then. I really will never forget my experiences aboard those beautiful ships. That was what got me interested in the merchant marine. I tried to go to Kings Point after the Oceanics but could not do it that way so I worked my way up the hawsepipe from deckhand to now chief mate unlimited and only a few more weeks sea time needed as chief mate to apply for master unlimited! I have been working toward that goal since I was on those ships in 1978!! It would be wonderful if there was a similar program today but I don;t see anything really like it. I'm happy to hear so many of you are still involved in the maritime world. What do you think about trying to round up more alumni and having a real world reunion? We could go on one of those sailing ships in the NE...
Saundor- good to hear from you! Are you still in CA? I remember that time we met up out there with Meko and had the sushi! Are you still in touch with anyone else from our trip?
Jill

[Lil Reiitzel]

I went to Oceanics in 1972, trained in Bergen, then to the canary islands,Gambia, the amazon, the azores, and got off in Cadiz Spain, with friends and mentors Frank Twigs and Arturo Rivera( who died quite some time ago) It was a wild ride and the experience of a life time. I often think about my companions and those experiences. I became a nurse midewife because of my experience of working with a traditional birth attendant in Gambia. Lil Reitzel

[Dean Quigley]

jill, brian, really good to here from you guys. i live in st thomas usvi. mekos son lives here on island , i brought him here about 8 years ago , hes agreat kid , talented sailor and all around boaty. my email is videan@live.com all the best to you

[timgoes]

Hi Brian, Lil and all, I was with the Oceanics 72-73 on the Statsraad Lehmkuhl. I was 15 and didn't really need to shave often. I just revisited the ship for the 1st time in 37 yrs in CT last weekend. 2 years ago I started an alumni group for all on Yahoo Groups "Oceanics" I also made 2 nice music videos from pooling peoples photos. There's more out there. There's a site that makes it super easy. I still want to say hi to some cabin mates not found and like to help others reconnect. It's good to try and summarize what happened and didn't happen and maybe share it along with your life story. It's up to each of us to give our voyages meanings. That's a good way to keep benefiting. My email is timgoes@aol.com. Here's the links to the 2 music videos. http://animoto.com/play/3DbglFL8vufWMiMejZIcgw And http://animoto.com/play/nCgb6ZXGdh7r91jnI17lDw Here is the link to the Oceanics Yahoo Group. When you sign up each time a member post a message it gets emailed to you: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oceanics/, Tim Harris