Jewell of the Ocean

Voyage 1

• About Us

  The Captains and Crew of M/B Jewell of the Ocean thoughtfully selected their vessel’s name as a tribute to their identity of the town they call home in Oregon, U.S.A.

  

  The dedicated crew of the Jewell of the Ocean is immersed in an intensive learning experience, where practical application is key to mastering essential nautical skills like map reading, analyzing wind and water currents, and predicting weather patterns. Beyond technical knowledge, their collaborative efforts in building the vessel are forging critical bonds of teamwork and communication necessary for life. Additionally, their interactions inherent in this shared endeavor expose the crew to different cultures and perspectives, ensuring they gain a well-rounded and deeply educational experience far exceeding the mere construction of their ship.

  Students have been eagerly awaiting the start to their miniboat project, dedicating the past three years to preparation and hoping for the opportunity to finally launch one of their own vessel’s someday. Captains and crew mates are now immensely excited to dive right in, keen to absorb every possible lesson about ships, the ocean, and the incredible array of creatures that inhabit its depths. They are hoping that Jewell of the Ocean travels to and lands in Japan!
  
  

• Build Progress Updates

  January 30th, 2026 Update:
  M/B  Jewell of the Ocean is making fantastic waves in its development, and it is truly coming along nicely. The students have been pouring their energy into every detail, recently completing the painting of the hull and keel with precision. While one group focuses on the artistic decoration of the sail and intricate designs for the deck, the tech team is busy under the hood, ensuring all systems are responsive and functioning. Not to be outdone, the launch team has officially scouted and selected their hopeful launch site, marking a major milestone in the journey from workshop to water.

  
  

  February 23rd, 2025 Update:
  Fair Winds and Following Seas: A Jewell of the Ocean Update

  The tools have quieted, the paint has dried, and the heavy lifting is officially complete! Our 5th and 6th grade shipwrights have reached a massive milestone: the build phase for the Jewell of the Ocean is officially finished.

  While there’s a bit of “end-of-project blues” in the classroom—it’s never easy saying goodbye to something you built—the excitement for the next chapter is already building. The students are shifting their focus from construction to oceanography and data science.
  

  Once she is launched, the students will become her “shore crew,” monitoring her journey across the waves.

  They are eager to:
  Track her GPS coordinates to see where the currents take her.
  Analyze real-time data, specifically monitoring air and water temperatures to understand the environments she encounters.
  Connect with the unknown, waiting to see what—and who—is on her next horizon.

  The Jewell of the Ocean is no longer just a mini boat; she’s a scientific messenger carrying the hard work and curiosity of our students into the great wide open.

• Deployment and Ocean Science Data From Onboard Sensor Pack

  M/B Jewell of the Ocean was dropped off with her deployer, Sause Bros. on March 17th, 2026, as they prepare for their voyage at sea to Hawaii. Students apart of their miniboat’s launch team researched optimal locations for launch and have requested a desired launch vicinity of 15-30N/130-160W. Thank you to Port Captain Nick Preston and crew of North West Sause Brothers Marine Transportation, as well as Captain Stewart Lott and crew of S/V Kokua for all your help and willingness to launch our miniboat!

  The Kokua officially departed Coos Bay at 1040 on March 20th with an initial ETA to Honolulu, HI of April 2nd.

  On March 31, we heard from Captain Stewart aboard the M/V Kokua: At 1155 Pacific Daylight Time (1855 UTC) today, we launched the JEWELL OF THE SEA at 26 16.6’N / 151 02.5’W. When last seen, she was sailing downwind on a course of 230 degrees true and an approximate speed of 10 knots. Fair Winds JEWELL OF THE SEA!

  The map below is showing the data reporting from the second GPS which is connected to a custom sensor package. In addition to reporting location with a secondary GPS tracker, this system is also collecting air temperature, water temperature, and orientation of the boat. Please note that the map below will only show the last 7 days of data and may include invalid points and data. If you are interested in looking at the data in a different format from the whole voyage, contact us.

  
  Her onboard camera has been catching all the actions of her first few days at sea:
  
  Stay tuned for more updates!