By Nick Escalada
A 78-foot, green and gold catamaran boat left the dry dock and slid into the waters of Bellingham Bay, Washington on the morning of Jan. 22. Her name is the North Wind, and she is the latest addition to the line of scientific research vessels operated by Cal Poly Humboldt.
The R/V North Wind is the successor to the Coral Sea, the university’s current research vessel, which has serviced countless students and faculty for the last 25 years. The Coral Sea will sail alongside its heir for a time but is slated to retire in 2026, as it is half a century old and no longer meets California’s emissions standards.
The North Wind sports a catamaran-style segmented hull made of lightweight aluminum with twin engines that efficiently propel its body through choppy waters. The vessel is custom designed to handle the rugged character of the North Coast, inspiring her name.
“The vessel’s name refers to the physical process that defines this region, driving the Pacific current, and contributing to ocean upwelling which provides our mild climate and rich fisheries,” said Eric Riggs, Dean of the College of Natural Resources & Sciences, in an official statement to the university. “It drives the ocean swells that generate our rugged coastline and provides a steady stream of storms and moisture that lead to our temperate, wet climate, feeding our forests and grasslands.”
Along with updated lab equipment and living quarters for multi-day expeditions, the North Wind boasts diving platforms on its stern that will streamline the routines of scientific dive students. Thanks to updated industry-standard surveying equipment, oceanography, marine biology, and wildlife majors will have smoother experiences collecting data and learning about oceanographic techniques.
The North Wind will undergo further testing in Washington before making her maiden voyage south to Humboldt Bay sometime this month. It has taken a few years, but the university’s polytechnic budget jump is beginning to show face. Only time will tell whether this shiny new vessel will walk the plank toward obsolescence or earn its sea legs as a valued investment.
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