Winter Ambassador Program (Day 1 & Day 2)
St. Croix, USVI
Ship’s Logs written by Winter Ambassador Program students Lilly, Leo, Hector, and Dahlia
December 20, 2023
On Monday morning, we woke up, had breakfast, and mustered before we set sails for the first time and took a little sail. I think the Captain said we sailed 18 miles. While on our sail there was many things that happened: almost all the participants got seasick and we also saw dolphins! It was a very cool experience, especially for people who haven't seen them before. After our sail, we picked up the mooring, secured the deck (furled the sails, coiled and hung the lines, etc.) and then we had our swim test. We had to swim the whole boat length (bow to stern), and then back to the ladder. Something very interesting about the Caribbean is that the water is insanely blue! It is so incredibly pretty, and I wish the water was like that in Massachusetts! Then we had dinner, and played a game called salad bowl to end off the day. We also presented our watch flags to the crew. Everyone got split into watches and while we were sailing we had to create a flag to represent our watch. I am a part of B watch and we are called the Dawn Chorus. We also had anchor watch where we took bearings, checked the bilges and the batteries and voltages. We were making sure everything was/is okay.
On Tuesday, we got up bright and early, dropped the mooring and started our sail towards St. John, part of the USVI, about 40 miles away from St. Croix. Many participants still got seasick, but less today. It was a very nice sail, extremely gorgeous. Then we struck the sails and furled them, and got prepared to anchor. The beauty of the USVI is unreal. I hope to come here again sometime!
- Lilly :)
As I write this log entry, I sit on the Pilot House Cabintop looking out at an orange and violet sunset. There is salt in my hair, a smile on my face, and the too familiar feeling of contented exhaustion in my bones. I hear calm lapping waves, birds I have never seen, and now, the dinner bell.
I have been aboard for two days now, and have had enough adventure to fill two weeks worth of stories. Today, for the first time, I went snorkeling in the ocean. The flora and fauna I was able to identify can only be found in National Graphic Magazine, I was sure! Yet, there, not 10 feet from me could I see turtles, rays, coral, brightly colored fish, urchins, and anemones.
New experiences, contrasting in positivity and matching in intensity, help me to remember why I love sailing - and perhaps more importantly, why I value our Great Lakes.
(To my family: Yes, I can get very seasick. I threw up over the high side and onto a dolphin. Oh well.)
- Leo Madson
On Tuesday, we sailed to St John, about six hours using the sails and engines we made it to the mooring and set the anchor. Going out on the small motor boats to the beach was really fun. I enjoyed the snorkeling but I had some trouble breathing through the mouth pipe. Besides that the beach was really fun, and needed as some time off the boat. Also rolling with Fritz and Hanna was fun. Me and Matt also have some cool convos.
I'm really thankful to my body and mental strength for not throwing up since I watched like five people throw up in front of me. But seeing those dolphins yesterday was a life changing moment that I will never forget, which will also have me grateful to World Ocean School for this opportunity, which feels like a one in a lifetime moment. The USVI is amazing. Thank you WOS.
- Hector
Monday was the first day we set sail. We went 18 miles and did a small loopy-loop and came back to the dock to pick up some more students who got there a little later due to flight complications. THis definitely wasn't my best, nor favorite day. I was extremely homesick as well as sea sick. Oddly enough, I didn't throw up during transit, but after swimming in the ocean for the first time.
Tuesday (today), we set sail early this morning and made our way to St John. I'm proud to say that I didn't get sea sick on the voyage over here but felt a little something in the morning. When we got to St John, we took the little boat to the beach and went swimming in the ocean, as well as snorkeling. We got to see Sea Turtles, and see all the colorful little fish. I've been experiencing a lot of "firsts" and it is in fact a excited feeling.
- Dahlia
