The Eagle Has Landed

 

The Story Of The Coast Guard Barque Eagle That Visited Greenport

By TJ Clemente

The town of Greenport has had so many special vessels stop by for a visit over the years. Being a major port on the North Fork, so close to the Atlantic Ocean, makes it both a safe haven and a port of desire for many of the world’s ocean, going sailboats. This last week the Coast Guard barque Eagle visited Greenport again. Cutting through a very dense fog the tall ship appeared out of Gardiners Bay, slipping into port with a haunting presence. Twenty passengers had gone out in a Coast Guard skiff to guide her in and to enjoy a few moments aboard the legendary ship. Joining the Captain of the Eagle, Chris Sinnet, on the bridge was former town supervisor Josh Horton, who helped steer the Eagle into its spot at the new Mitchell Park Marina. Actually Mr. Horton was invited to stay aboard and join the Eagle and its crew on its trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bringing a barque the size of the Eagle takes a crew of six to eight cadets just to man the wheel that turns the ship. It takes that much brute strength.
Some facts about the Eagle. Her length is 295 feet, roughly a football field long. The maximum speed under sail is 16 knots. Her range is listed as 5450 miles.
The three-masted sailing barque was commissioned by the Coast Guard into service May 15, 1946. The Eagle has 21,350 square feet of sail. She is one of five training barques in the world. Her sister ships are Mircea of Romania, Sagres II of Portugal, Gorch Foch of Germany and Tovarich of Russia. The Eagle was built in the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany and was taken as a war prize from Germany after World War II. When in training, the Eagle has around a crew of 155, counting cadets aboard. It is not easy managing over 20,000 square feet of sail and 6 miles of rigging. The Coast Guard believes that this training teaches cadets the basics of salt-water sea life. Over 200 lines must be maneuvered when sailing the Eagle. Her hull is made of steel 4/10s of an inch thick. The weather decks are three-inch thick teak over steel.
While the ship was in Greenport, many stopped just to look at this mighty vessel, the largest of its type in US service. It is in fact America’s only active square-rigger in any service. One can only think back to yesteryear when smaller but equally magnificent whaling vessels entered Greenport Harbor. Eagle’s last visit to Greenport was in 2001 before the new Mitchell Marina was completed. It had to be anchored in the bay and the Coast Guard ran ferries out to it for the visitors. These days the Eagle has a permanent crew of 55, along with 99 cadets from the Academy in New London, CT.
While the Eagle was docked at Mitchell Marina, guests and visitors walked up and came aboard. Docking the massive barque took huge efforts, moving very large rope lines to very large cleats. The Eagle came in to port under motor power.
Family members and guests were very thrilled to go aboard this vessel. It took thirty minutes to pull down the ladder to bring them aboard.
Having a wonderful experience like watching Eagle approach Greenport is just part of the Greenport North Fork experience. With our toes on the sea and ocean at our doorsteps the royal visits of the great yachts never end. Greenport is so very rich in tradition and history. The people of Greenport have witnessed so much history from such a great vantage point and understand the responsibility of keeping Greenport special.