Morgan Hightshoe never sailed a boat, nor expected to climb the mast of the historic Elizabeth II, a replica of the original boat that came to the shores of N.C . in 1584. Without seasoned sea legs, the 2011 graduate in zoology took time out of his vacation at the coast to help maintain the ship and play around its tall masts.

Spending eight hours a day on August 13 and 14 on the ship,  Hightshoe scrubbed the decks, fixed its sails and learned how to adjust the various nautical knots. According to him, it was an intense learning process.

“It’s something fun to do on the weekends, but working on a boat is a lot of work,” Hightshoe said. “I can imagine maintaining this 400 years ago was quite a task, especially as it sailed across the Atlantic.”

The Elizabeth, the original ship, landed in Whale Bay on Nags Head Island in 1584, marking one of the first landings on N.C . turf, according to First Mate Dwight Gregory, a sailor from Manteo. The boat carried 50 sailors with a deck 69 feet long from stern to bow, toting four masts. Gregory allowed Hightshoe , a curious rookie to nautical affairs, to climb to the lookout bowl of the middle mast.

“It was like rock climbing,” Hightshoe said. “I hoisted myself over the lip of the bowl but near the top I snapped a piece of the rope as I was climbing—it was sort of intimidating. It can be a little precarious when you’re up there, but it was fun and a cool view.”

The island of Manteo, sitting in the Albemarle Sound between the eastern N.C . coast and the Outer Banks, neighbors Roanoke Island, home of the famous site of the lost colony. The lost colony, the first English settlement in North America, disappeared without any reason or historical evidence.

Encompassing the typical Baroque style of the 16th century, the Elizabeth II carries with it a historical legacy of N.C .

“The story of the original is rich in history of the exploration of North Carolina and her beauty is really impressive,” Gregory said. “It’s great to work with this 28-year-old representative of living history every day.”

Though Hightshoe came in new to the maritime realm, he said he sees himself probing more into the world of sailing.

“I never really expected to be out here and work on the boat but once I got started, I learned a lot and found interest in different aspects of the ship,” Hightshoe said. “I was training like the crew and had fun, but I’m going to keep my day job.”