New Experiences in St. John: Crew Training Days 1-3
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Monday, January 3 - Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Log written by Sam Johnson (2023 AmeriCorps Deckhand Educator)
Early on Monday morning, we awakened to prepare for our brief sojourn to St. John before slipping out of Christiansted harbor and setting sail. The weather was fair for the 37-mile trip, most of which we spent close-hauled with our sails trimmed tight. Several times we were treated to the spectacle of seabirds diving to snatch flying fish out of midair before resuming their leisurely orbit around the ship.
The sights as we entered Flanagan Passage and the Narrows between St. John and Tortola (being the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, respectively) were exciting, whether the scores of other boats under many different flags, or the dramatic rocks, coastlines, and hills of the islands. Sailing between the islands also provided an excellent chance for the crew to practice coming about and shifting different points of sail. By the time we reached our anchorage in Francis Bay and took in sail, all of us were eagerly anticipating exploring ashore. The actual operation of dropping anchor - separate from our usual process of mooring and docking in St. Croix - was the first that many of our deckhands had carried out.
The afternoon provided the chance for snorkeling, and the diversity of marine life at St. John did not disappoint. In addition to the myriad of reef fish, some exciting observations included rays, eels, and an octopus. After dinner, we were briefed on the procedures for standing “anchor watch,” which involved a rotation of crew throughout the night to take bearings on distant lights and ensure that the anchor was holding the ship in position. In residential programs, we will be showing students how to take on similar responsibilities.
The next day afforded us the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with St. John’s environment and history. Exploring old ruins perched on promontories with excellent views and sea breezes, meeting locals while enduring tourists, hiking through forests and slopes, and more snorkeling (this time with a few visits by sharks!) were not impeded by several rain showers throughout the day. Those of us who had scaled the island’s steep hillsides actually welcomed a cooling down! Once all hands were back aboard Denis Sullivan, we were exhausted, yet eager to share the stories and experiences of the day. I was aloft securing the rafee (our triangular “party hat” sail) in a blustery evening breeze with menacing rainclouds on the horizon when the dinner bell rang. Afterward, we finished the day with a full belly and a definite sense of satisfaction from our trip to St. John.
The next morning, all hands took turns at the windlass to haul the 500-pound anchor aboard, and afterwards, we set sail, which included me scurrying aloft to resume my ongoing battle to understand the best way to set and strike the rafee. On a fine day with gusts over twenty knots of wind and eight-foot swells, we sailed around the Western end of St. John through Windward Passage and Pillsbury Sound, before plowing back down towards St. Croix, at seven and a half knots with a good spread of canvas. Throughout the day the watches also took turns in practicing navigation, plotting positions, courses, and “courses made good,” by which we can track the difference between our intended and actual heading throughout the day. The latter can be influenced by wind shifts, swells, current, and helmsmanship over various periods of time, and understanding these factors can help us better account for the effects of local conditions and become better navigators in the future. After arriving back in Christiansted harbor, we had time for a brief cleaning of the ship before it was back to our usual programming with a sunset sail.
