David Bouck of West Tisbury is enrolled in SEA Semester, a study-abroad program through Sea Education Association in Woods Hole while away from studies at Endicott College. David has successfully completed the Sea Semester’s six-week shore component earning academic credit for curriculum in oceanography, nautical science and maritime studies.

At the program’s Woods Hole campus, David developed a research project that will be tested and completed aboard SEA’s 134-foot sailing school vessel the Corwith Cramer, one of the most sophisticated research equipped vessels under sail in the United States. David will sail on the tall ship from Woods Hole with possible port calls in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago and a final destination of St. Croix, USVI, a journey of approximately 3,000 nautical miles and six weeks at sea. During that time, in addition to collecting data, David will help provide weather observations to a national database, learn to chart the course of the vessel using celestial navigation and serve as junior watch officer, taking full command of the vessel during a watch. David’s shipmates come from colleges and universities around the country.

Sea Education Association (SEA), headquartered in Woods Hole, was founded in 1971. It is the only full-credit undergraduate program in the United States that combines a rigorous academic and research curriculum with a voyage to the deep ocean under sail. Students of any discipline may apply to the 12-week SEA Semester program which combines both shore and sea components. For information, visit sea.edu telephone 800-552-3633, extension 12, or e-mail Iweitzen@sea.edu