York College of PennsylvaniaYork College of Pennsylvania~~

Geography of North AmericaGeography of North America

Geography 341.01Geography 341.01

Course Project – Fall 2005Course Project – Fall 2005

George Hay Kain, IIIGeorge Hay Kain, III

Course Project AssignmentCourse Project Assignment

• Create a detailed and descriptive Create a detailed and descriptive itinerary for a trip across the U.S. and itinerary for a trip across the U.S. and Canada.Canada.

• Distance covered must be at least Distance covered must be at least 1,000 miles.1,000 miles.

• Route must pass through at least Route must pass through at least three states and/or provinces.three states and/or provinces.

Theme Selected: A Nautical Theme Selected: A Nautical History of Northeastern North History of Northeastern North

AmericaAmerica• The project trip is a voyage by sailing The project trip is a voyage by sailing

vessel from Baltimore, MD to St. vessel from Baltimore, MD to St. John’s, Newfoundland.John’s, Newfoundland.

• Ports of Call en route all have a Ports of Call en route all have a significant connection to the nautical significant connection to the nautical history of northeastern North America.history of northeastern North America.

• This project is a concrete planning This project is a concrete planning step in an actual voyage I hope to step in an actual voyage I hope to undertake in the summer of 2007.undertake in the summer of 2007.

BackgroundBackground

• I have been a member of the Boy I have been a member of the Boy Scouts of America both as a youth Scouts of America both as a youth and an adult for almost 50 years.and an adult for almost 50 years.

• My current position is as the Skipper My current position is as the Skipper of Sea Scout Ship 25 in York, PA.of Sea Scout Ship 25 in York, PA.

• Sea Scouting is a coed program for Sea Scouting is a coed program for youth ages 14-21 seeking to instill youth ages 14-21 seeking to instill character and citizenship in a character and citizenship in a nautical setting.nautical setting.

World Scout Jamboree 2007World Scout Jamboree 2007

• In the summer of 2007 an international In the summer of 2007 an international World Scouting Jamboree World Scouting Jamboree will be held in will be held in England to celebrate the 100England to celebrate the 100thth anniversary of the Scouting movement.anniversary of the Scouting movement.

• My Sea Scout group hopes to sail My Sea Scout group hopes to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in 2007 to across the Atlantic Ocean in 2007 to attend this Jamboree.attend this Jamboree.

• Our actual planning began several Our actual planning began several years ago.years ago.

Actual Preparations to DateActual Preparations to Date

• 2003 – Acquired a Mason 43 ketch 2003 – Acquired a Mason 43 ketch named named Kuan YinKuan Yin

• 2004 – Participated in the even-year 2004 – Participated in the even-year biennial Annapolis, MD to Bermuda biennial Annapolis, MD to Bermuda Ocean RaceOcean Race

• 2005 – Participated in the biennial 2005 – Participated in the biennial odd-year Marion, MA to Bermuda odd-year Marion, MA to Bermuda Ocean RaceOcean Race

Future PlansFuture Plans

• 2006 – Participate in the 1002006 – Participate in the 100thth Anniversary Anniversary Newport, RI to Bermuda Ocean Race.Newport, RI to Bermuda Ocean Race.

• 2007 – Sail across the Atlantic to 2007 – Sail across the Atlantic to Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, England.Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, England.– Brownsea Island is the site of the first Boy Brownsea Island is the site of the first Boy

Scout encampment in 1907.Scout encampment in 1907.– Organized by Lt. Gen. Robert Baden-Powell to Organized by Lt. Gen. Robert Baden-Powell to

test his ideas about Scouting for Boys.test his ideas about Scouting for Boys.

Geography Course ProjectGeography Course Project

• The route that we propose to use to The route that we propose to use to sail to England in 2007 will take us sail to England in 2007 will take us along the northeast coast of North along the northeast coast of North America. America.

• Departure Date is tentatively June 10, Departure Date is tentatively June 10, 2007 from Baltimore, MD.2007 from Baltimore, MD.

• Arrival Date at Brownsea Island in Arrival Date at Brownsea Island in England is tentatively mid-July 2007.England is tentatively mid-July 2007.

• Jamboree Dates: July 27-August 8, Jamboree Dates: July 27-August 8, 2007.2007.

Geography Project Tie-In With Geography Project Tie-In With Proposed Trans-Atlantic Proposed Trans-Atlantic

CrossingCrossing• The natural sailing route to England The natural sailing route to England

during the summer months is a during the summer months is a great-circle routegreat-circle route..

• The great circle on the spherical The great circle on the spherical surface of the earth is the path with surface of the earth is the path with the smallest curvature, and hence the smallest curvature, and hence the shortest path between two points the shortest path between two points on the surface. You can see this on the surface. You can see this great-circle route on Google Earthgreat-circle route on Google Earth

ObservationsObservations

• The Google Earth image shows clearly that The Google Earth image shows clearly that the shortest route between Cape May, NJ to the shortest route between Cape May, NJ to the southern tip of England will bring us the southern tip of England will bring us close to Nantucket, Massachusetts, Halifax, close to Nantucket, Massachusetts, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.Nova Scotia, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.

• These areas are rich in maritime history, so These areas are rich in maritime history, so it would be worthwhile to visit them, along it would be worthwhile to visit them, along with a few others nearby, on the way.with a few others nearby, on the way.

• These stops will also provide harbors of These stops will also provide harbors of refuge in the event of necessity before refuge in the event of necessity before committing to the final open-ocean leg of committing to the final open-ocean leg of the trip.the trip.

Geography Project Ports of Geography Project Ports of CallCall• Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MDFt. McHenry, Baltimore, MD• Old Road Bay, Patapsco River, MDOld Road Bay, Patapsco River, MD• Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, MDChesapeake and Delaware Canal, MD• Cape May, NJCape May, NJ• Newport, RINewport, RI• Nantucket, MANantucket, MA• Halifax, Nova ScotiaHalifax, Nova Scotia• Ste. Pierre and MichelonSte. Pierre and Michelon• Argentia, Placentia Bay, NewfoundlandArgentia, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland• St. John’s, NewfoundlandSt. John’s, Newfoundland

Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MDFt. McHenry, Baltimore, MD

Defense of Baltimore, 1814Defense of Baltimore, 1814

Old Road Bay – Battle of North Old Road Bay – Battle of North Point and Fort McHenryPoint and Fort McHenry

White Rocks Marina White Rocks Marina Kuan YinKuan Yin’s Home Port’s Home Port

Leg 1 – 114 Nautical MilesLeg 1 – 114 Nautical MilesBaltimore to Cape May, NJBaltimore to Cape May, NJ

Leg 2 - 339 Nautical MilesLeg 2 - 339 Nautical MilesCape May, NJ to Nantucket, MACape May, NJ to Nantucket, MA

Leg 3 – 412 Nautical MilesLeg 3 – 412 Nautical MilesNantucket to Halifax, Nova Nantucket to Halifax, Nova

ScotiaScotia

Leg 4 – 693 Nautical MilesLeg 4 – 693 Nautical MilesHalifax to St. John’s, Halifax to St. John’s,

NewfoundlandNewfoundland

Nantucket, MassachusettsNantucket, Massachusetts

• Historic Whaling Community.Historic Whaling Community.

• Site, offshore, of the sinking of the Site, offshore, of the sinking of the Italian ocean liner Italian ocean liner ANDREA DORIAANDREA DORIA in in 1956.1956.

Halifax, Nova ScotiaHalifax, Nova Scotia

Halifax Citadel Halifax Citadel One of Canada's most One of Canada's most visited national visited national historic sites, the historic sites, the Citadel features Citadel features exhibits, audio-visual exhibits, audio-visual presentations, guided presentations, guided tours, the noon gun tours, the noon gun and the 78th Highland and the 78th Highland Regiment.Regiment.

St. Pierre and MichelonSt. Pierre and Michelon

• An integral part of the An integral part of the French Republic, these French Republic, these islands are the last islands are the last remnant of France’s remnant of France’s once large possessions once large possessions on this continent. on this continent.

• Although Fishing Cod Although Fishing Cod on the Grand Banks on the Grand Banks was the main industry was the main industry for centuries, this is an for centuries, this is an island that has known island that has known War, Deportation, War, Deportation, Revolution and the Revolution and the spoils of Prohibition.spoils of Prohibition.

Placentia Bay, Placentia Bay, NewfoundlandNewfoundland

Churchill meets FDR Churchill meets FDR aboard the aboard the USS USS AugustaAugusta (CA-31) (CA-31) at at their 1941 secret their 1941 secret meeting at Argentia, meeting at Argentia, Newfoundland, lasting Newfoundland, lasting August 9th through the August 9th through the 12th. This meeting 12th. This meeting resulted in the Atlantic resulted in the Atlantic Charter that the U.S. Charter that the U.S. and UK officially and UK officially announced two days announced two days later.later.

St. John’s, NewfoundlandSt. John’s, Newfoundland

• The oldest city in mainland North America.The oldest city in mainland North America.• John Cabot entered the harbour on the evening of John Cabot entered the harbour on the evening of

St. John's Day, 1497 A.D.St. John's Day, 1497 A.D.• From the very first years after Cabot's discovery, From the very first years after Cabot's discovery,

ships from Western Europe came to ships from Western Europe came to Newfoundland to fish, and St. John's was a Newfoundland to fish, and St. John's was a rendezvous for them all. Captain John Rut of the rendezvous for them all. Captain John Rut of the British Navy described his visit there in 1527, and British Navy described his visit there in 1527, and aboard his ship, the "Mary of Guildford", he wrote aboard his ship, the "Mary of Guildford", he wrote the first letter from North America to Europe and the first letter from North America to Europe and sent it home to King Henry VIII by an English ship sent it home to King Henry VIII by an English ship that was returning with a load of codfish.that was returning with a load of codfish.

Total Nautical MileagesTotal Nautical Mileages

• Leg 1 – Baltimore to Cape May – 114 nmLeg 1 – Baltimore to Cape May – 114 nm

• Leg 2 – Cape May to Nantucket – 339 nmLeg 2 – Cape May to Nantucket – 339 nm

• Leg 3 – Nantucket to Halifax – 412 nmLeg 3 – Nantucket to Halifax – 412 nm

• Leg 4 – Halifax to St. John’s – 693 nmLeg 4 – Halifax to St. John’s – 693 nm

• TOTAL NAUTICAL MILES – 1,558 NMTOTAL NAUTICAL MILES – 1,558 NM

The EndThe End

May you have fair winds and May you have fair winds and following seasfollowing seas