Welcome home, weary traveler

Mathis Winkler

As 10-year-old Josette got ready to board Orange Coast College’s motor

yacht to welcome her dad, Michael Last, out at sea, she could think of

one reason why she enjoyed his absence from home.

“I got to sleep in the big bed,” she said, adding that she was “kind

of” looking forward to having him back.

Together with a dozen other sailing enthusiasts, Last brought the

Alaska Eagle, the college’s 65-foot sail training vessel, home from a

20,000-nautical-mile trip Sunday.

Since her departure on July 1, 1999, the ship has sailed to Hawaii,

Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand and Vancouver Island, among other

destinations. Altogether, about 160 students took part in the 16 legs of

the trip.

Crew members “wash dishes, raise the sails, navigate and steer -- the

whole thing,” said Brad Avery, who directs the college’s sailing program

and has skippered the Alaska Eagle.

While the majestic boat graciously made her way to the college’s docks

on Mariners Mile, Avery said a complete checkup was in store.

“The ship has had to take it all and endure it all,” he said. “It

doesn’t look like it. But we’ll tear it all down and take everything

off.”

Since the college received the vessel as a donation in 1982, the

Alaska Eagle has sailed nearly 200,000 miles in the Pacific and Atlantic

oceans. That’s in addition to the 100,000 miles she had already

shouldered when she came to the school.

During her make-over, which will last almost a year, the Alaska Eagle

will still take trips to Catalina Island and Cabo San Lucas.

“Otherwise, it atrophies,” Avery said. He added that the ship will

embark on an 18-month trip to Hawaii, Tahiti, Pitcairn, Easter Island and

Antarctica on July 1, 2001.

While waiting for the Alaska Eagle to arrive, Tom Stafford said

sailing has long been a passion for his father, Steve.

“It’s one of these things he’s always wanted to do,” Stafford said. “I

don’t know how [he] will feel. I know I would feel glad to get on land.

But that’s me.”

Surrounded by honking ships of all sizes and a water-spray welcome

from the Harbor Patrol, the Alaska Eagle made her way down Newport

Harbor. Standing close to her mother, Ann, and her sister Jessica,

Josette seemed to get more excited about her dad’s return.

When the ship arrived, she ran up and whispered with Michael Last

across the railing.

“He told me, ‘Did I like the boat ride?’ ” she said. “And I said, ‘I

didn’t get sick at all.’ I’m glad that he’s back.”

Last, a surgeon in Rancho Mirage who spent two weeks on the ship, said

he was happy to be back with his family.

“I certainly didn’t miss working,” he shouted from the deck.

Will Josette have to return to her own bedroom now?

“Absolutely,” he said with a laugh. “She’ll have a fight on her hands

otherwise.”

For more information on trips aboard the Alaska Eagle, call (949)

645-9412.