ABOARD THE EAGLE, PUGET SOUND - I slept right through reveille. My roommate Food Service Chief Leta Gibbons had to remind me that if I wanted breakfast, it would not come to me, and it would be gone by 7:30 a.m.

"Good morning, shipmates," Capt. Chris Sinnett greeted us over the ship's address system.

After a breakfast of fresh fruit, strong coffee, perfect eggs and pancakes, we mustered on the waist of the ship at 8 a.m.

"Bring the chocolate," Leta had told me.

Muster would be an ideal time give cadets and crew an advance taste of Tacoma hospitality. I'd bought 60 pounds of Brown & Haley confections as a token of the warmth with which we will welcome them.

The morning started in fog, and the cadets were alerted to the approach of another Coast Guard cutter, the Boutwell. As it drew near, they lined the starboard rail and stood at attention. On a whistle signal, they saluted as the two ships passed. Crew aboard Boutwell returned the courtesy. The long-standing naval tradition is called "rendering honors."

Bos'n's School of Deck Speak
Posted by Kathleen Merryman on the Tall Ships blog at 11:09 a.m. Tuesday

The Eagle Bos'n (that's boatswain to you sandpeeps) Keith Raisch is here to translate some of the favorite phrases you're likely to hear aboard Eagle at port, under sail and under power.

We are typing in capitals, as all commands are delivered in a BOOMING SEA VOICE.

"RISE TACKS AND SHEETS:" "It's not one I like to give, but is the command to take in the foresail or the mainsail, collectively known as the courses. They are the lowest sail on each mast. We take the sail in when we have lost the wind and are going to motor, or as part of a tack."

"EASE THE BRAILS AND INHAULS! HAUL AROUND ON THE OUTHAULS:" "That is the command given to set the mizzen sails, upper or lower."

"AVAST:" "It's the nautical way of saying 'FREEZE' It stops everything."

"UP BEHIND:" "When there is a bunch of people on the line, or it gets to where they are working against you, calling 'UP BEHIND' gets them off the line so you can work it without that resistance."

"LIBERTY! LIBERTY! LIBERTY!" "Your work day is done. You can get out and see the town and do whatever it is you want to do to play. Within limits."

"Hip, hip, hurrah! Eagle!"
Posted by Kathleen Merryman on the Tall Ships blog at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday

The Eagle was passing Seattle's Shilshole Marina around 4 p.m. Small boats were gathering around her, and three retired and restored Coast Guard vessels were motoring in front of her.

The Eagle motored into Seattle, just as she will into Commencement Bay. Her sails are massive, to give her speed and power. But because she is square-rigged, and so big, she does not have the maneuverability under sail to enter a confined passage with other vessels in the area.

So, when it makes a festive entrance, instead of setting sail, Eagle sets cadets.

Annette Boston joined the cadets who climbed the ratlines on all three masts, made their way out the yardarms and stood there as Eagle crossed Elliott Bay. Dozens more cadets climbed the ratlines and stationed themselves there.

Chief Electrician's Mate Michael Barnthouse stood nearby, looking up. He's been part of the way up a mast twice, and that was enough for him.

The cadets are different.

"They say you haven't been on Eagle unless you've gone all the way to the top. They like it," he said. "They're fearless."

Two Coast Guard helicopters circled. A Seattle fireboat passed by with a salute of spray. The crew dropped anchor.

"Thank you, Eagle!" shouted Jack Sullivan, commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club. "Hip, hip, hurrah," the crowd responded. "Hip, hip, hurrah! Hip, hip, hurrah! Eagle!"

TALL SHIPS TACOMA

WHAT: Thirty-one ships from around the Western Hemisphere meet in Tacoma for five days of onboard and onshore education and fun.

WHEN: Thursday through Monday

WHERE: Thea Foss Waterway, downtown Tacoma

COST: Festival is free. Boarding and sailing passes on sale at www.tallshipstacoma.com.

details: See the Tall Ships navigator online at www.thenewstribune.com/tallships.

IN TODAY’S PAPER

GALLEY COOKING: SoundLife

COMING THURSDAY

PARADE OF SAIL: Get ready for the big event, as ships sail into the Foss Waterway.

ONLINE TODAY

Live blogging from Eagle and visits to the fleet in Quartermaster Harbor. blogs.thenewstribune.com/tallships

Editor's note: Columnist Kathleen Merryman and photographer Janet Jensen are aboard the Coast Guard Eagle as she makes her way to Tall Ships Tacoma. Here are excerpts from Tuesday's journey. For today's adventures, see the Tall Ships blog at blogs.thenewstribune.com/tallships.