USC student Zachary Powell had an unusual final assignment to end the spring semester.
“I was the chain gremlin,” he said.
Aboard the brigantine ship, Irving Johnson, Powell climbed below deck and coiled an anchor chain as it was hoisted up from the sea floor. It was not exactly a typical classroom setting.
“Pretty wet. Pretty dark. Kind of cramped. But it was cool,” Powell said. “It was an interesting job.”
Powell was one of dozens of students who recently sailed from San Pedro Bay to Catalina Island to wrap up the introductory class for the Nautical Science program at the USC Price School of Public Policy. During the two-day voyage, students learned the science of nautical navigation, raised and lowered sails, steered the ship, and made sure everyone was safe on board.
“I think sailing has a really rich history, and it’s cool to hear about all the ways they can navigate,” Powell said.
Launched in 1970, the Nautical Science program now has four classes that can ultimately give students credit toward earning a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license. Although closely tied to the USC Price School’s Naval ROTC program, it has proven to be popular with students pursuing all sorts of majors, from acting to engineering. The program is directed by Professor Frank Zerunyan, Director of the Center for National Defense and Public Safety.
Watch the video above to see highlights from a recent voyage and learn more about the Nautical Science program.
