“A Leap of Faith”: 2023 Crew Training Voyage Day 3
Off Miami, Florida
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Log written by Andrew Sanchez (2022 AmeriCorps Deckhand Educator and Steward)
It is an odd feeling to be nearly done with an endeavor. For the most part it’s just been business as usual, except for those brief moments where it hits you that you only have 10 or so days left. As soon as the Denis Sullivan attaches to its mooring in St. Croix my job here will be complete.
Onboard I have been avid in journaling. I’ve written 248 entries and counting. Starting from the first day in St. Croix all the way to the present. It has become more than just a coping mechanism but a project. A project that has gotten me through this year. I thought it would be appropriate to share my recent entry for todays ship’s log:
It’s been over a year since I first stepped foot on Roseway and now I’m returning to where it all began on an entirely different boat.
Being born and raised in a desert I had no concept of sailing. So the whole idea of crewing aboard an old wooden tall-ship was mostly romantic. I joined for the story and the adventure. I didn’t know what I would learn or experience.
I found out that futtocks, jibboom and spitzle are not nonsense words. Using books onboard I created my own leather sheath and “one high-class knife lanyard”. I am now able to do a lashing, whipping, seizing, serving and a mousing despite still confusing one with the other.
I’ve experienced helping students safely climb 70ft in the air and have been bowsprit dunked 4 ft in the water. Storm furled during a squall. At 0300 during transit, I climbed aloft to free a lazy jack and sailed off the hook several times.
As Steward I ran out of rum and I ran out of vodka but I always had one Sierra Mist.
We sailed the entire eastern seaboard of the US from the tip of Florida to Eastport Maine. Motored through 6 rivers and a big lake to get from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Mobile, Alabama
I experienced ups and downs. Many times I wanted to quit. Sometimes I wanted to work my way up to Captain. Most of the time I just wanted to sleep. In the end I had enough juice to make it to the finish line.
Crew mates have come and gone. Bonded by sweat, tears and salt. We’ve seen many Captains, 11 to be exact. We even hold the record: 4 captains in 4 days. Everybody brought something new to the ship. Tall-ships have a way of attracting colorful and interesting characters.
Overall I’m satisfied. I’m tired. Glad I took a leap of faith but I’m ready to go. I joined this organization for a story and by God did I get one.
