“Grand Adventures”: 2023 Crew Training Voyage Day 1

Gulf of Mexico

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Log written by oncoming Deckhand Educator Adam Young

Good evening all! My day began with a bang, quite literally. As I was waking for the morning, I whacked my head inside my bunk. After brushing aside the stars I emerged from the foc’s’le to a beautiful sunrise, my face alite with a grin; we were to set off on our southbound voyage from St. Petersburg to St. Croix. What was not to be excited about!

Soon after breakfast, we mustered at midships. Some were still groggy, coffee in hand, whereas others looked eagerly towards departure. Our morning orders were quite simply to clean up the dock outside USFSP (the University of Southern Florida St. Petersburg), fill up water tanks and generally tidy up the boat a little. Around 0930, we were ready to take in dock lines and set off on an all-hands departure. With calm seas and gentle winds, our second and third mates (Noah and Dinnie, respectively), took charge of bending on our raffee and main gaff tops’l. These two sails fly aloft, which required numerous hands in the rig and on deck. The sails quickly alit from the deck and began to soar over the cross trees.

Within the next few days, we can look forward to seeing their majestic silhouettes fly high above. After lunch and a brief muster, we broke into watches. In A Watch, it’s me, Miss Jen, Jake (Jen’s husband), Aurora and Jordan. The afternoon passed by uneventfully as Jordan and Jake were shown how to go through boat checks and learn to helm. Since, I have been watching the sun set while enjoying delectable chicken soup made by Jake the Cook (thank you, Jake!).

As I write this, I can only look forward to the midnight watch to come and, even further, the thrilling sailing that awaits. As always, I am truly thankful to be part of this community that takes me on such grand adventures and provides such valuable bonds.

Sincerely,

Adam