Stormy Normy

Davidson Day School (North Carolina)

Updates:

1st Voyage

  • About us and our project

    Students at Davidson Day School have been working on their boat project. So far they have:

    • Received the kit
    • STEM students practice latitude and longitude
    • Named our boat
    • Filled the keel and attached it to the hull
    • Analyzed the sensors and started to put together our sensor pack

    Next they plan to:

    • Complete install of sensor pack and painting of the hull
    • Add a figurehead
    • Install of sail
    • Launch in Lake Davidson

    Here are some pictures of progress so far!

    April 2024 Update

    After some challenges this summer with moisture, the Davidson Day boat had some hoops to get through to get out to sea! This adjusted the initial plans to launch in Lake Davidson. The moisture caused the bracket that was holding their GPS to pop off. The students had to build a different style of mount for their GPS unit. They also painted the hull. 

    Prior to sealing, the students tested the sensors and GPS, which due to the time that had passed had gone through some challenges. Luckily it all worked out! The kids also wrote letters about their community and collected photos to put inside the hull. The students sealed the hull after successful tests, raised the sail, and signed Stormy Normy. The boat was delivered to Cape Fear Community College on April 21, 2024, where the Marine Technology Department is going to take Stormy and officially launch!

     

  • April 26-30, 2024: A quick but successful voyage

    April 21, 2024

    The boat was delivered to Cape Fear Community College on April 21, 20224, where the Marine Technology Department is going to take Stormy and officially launch it! It will be launched with a miniboat that students at CFCC built: Gilliland.

    April 26, 2024

    R/V Cape Hatteras Cruise Report: Released both drifters this morning in the Gulf Stream. Hard to say if they will stay in the stream long with the hard NE wind. Drifters were released at 1020 at: 31 43.627N 079 00.987W. More photos and videos of the event when the ship gets closer to the beach.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Marine Technology (@cfccmarinetech)

     

    April 29, 2024 Update

    The Stormy Normy made its way to a tidal area (St Helena Sound) after 2.6 days at sea and traveling 187 km. The Gilliland however, stayed at sea a little longer and headed north of Charleston, but was still offshore about 20-30 km on the 29th. To find out what happened next with Gilliland, click here.

     

    April 30, 2024

    On the morning of April 30, the Stormy Normy was still reporting in the same spot, so the tide did not move her. It was in an area that we were not sure people had access to, so we had to do some research. Then, in the afternoon, we got a phone call from Doug, who is a crabber that said he found the miniboat! Michelle (Davidson’s miniboat captain) called him back and Doug graciously offered to store the boat while next steps were determined.

    We called upon our dear friend Ann Ritchie who lived nearby, and she helped to make arrangements for getting the boat relaunched. Thank you, Ann!

  • Voyage 1: Complete

    Click on titles above to explore the first voyage of Stormy Normy.

2nd Voyage

  • June 8-19, 2024: Another successful voyage

    Thanks to the crew of SLOW YOUR ROLL (and Jay Davis for the connection and coordination), the Stormy Normy was relaunched into the Gulf Stream on World Ocean Day, June 8, 2024.

    The boat sailed northeast and fast in the Gulf Stream, but then took a turn… and ended up back in North Carolina 11 days later.

    On the morning of June 19, Captain Brian of Silver Lining Charters found the boat on the beach. Stay tuned for more!

  • Voyage 2: Complete

    Click on titles above to explore the second voyage of Stormy Normy.

Voyage 3

  • Ocean Science Data

    This miniboat also has sensors installed to collect more information about the ocean (Note: only the last 7 days of data will show here and it is not QA/QC’d):

  • Voyage 3 Complete: September 26-30, 2024

    Since being recovered in June, Captain Brian of Silver Lining Charters kept Stormy Normy safe and also spent the summer getting it ready for another voyage.

    Brian also made arrangements to have the miniboat launched by Captain Greg of the Fishin’ Frenzy.

     

    Then, on September 26, 2024, the Stormy Normy was set back to sea by Captain Greg and the FISHIN’ FRENZY! Big thanks to the crew, and to Brian of SILVER LINING CHARTERS for getting her ready and back on the water.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Greg Mayer (@frenzygreg)

    By September 30, the Stormy Normy had been carried back to the Outer Banks by the wind. This time landing in Corolla. Thanks to Morgan, one of the lifeguards at the beach, it was safely recovered and will be brought to nearby Manteo Middle School (who are building a new miniboat this year actually). This will give students at Davidson Day School a new class to connect with and share stories.