2024-2025 Winter Ambassador Program
Live aboard the tall ship Denis Sullivan during your winter break!
Make unforgettable memories during your winter break aboard tall ship Denis Sullivan this year. Come aboard our 137’ wooden schooner as we sail throughout the US Virgin Islands. This program is designed to allow young sailors and aspiring sailors ages 16-19 to step outside their comfort zones, make new friends, and see new places - all within a supportive learning community.
Winter Ambassador Program
December 27, 2024 - January 3, 2025
Students ages 16-19
Cost $2,700 per student.
The Winter Ambassador Program is an immersive and exciting live-aboard experience for up to 18 students. Students and crew sail by day and anchor at night, providing opportunities for sail training, activities at anchor, and field trips to sites of interest on land and at sea. Students learn the basics of tall ship sailing and experience a taste of marine science, engineering, and maritime history. No prior sailing experience is required for the Winter Ambassador Program.
See a Program in Action!
About our schooner Denis Sullivan
Denis Sullivan is a 137’ wooden schooner owned by World Ocean School. She is our newest ship and is the sister ship to our schooner Roseway. She was built in 2000 in Milwaukee, WI after nearly a thousand people donated a million hours to complete her construction. She was built as the flagship of the State of Wisconsin and now makes her home with World Ocean School in Boston and St. Croix.
Life Aboard Denis Sullivan!
As a Winter Ambassador, you will get a taste of life aboard a tall ship - which means you'll live just like our professional crew members! You'll sleep in single bunks in our "Main Hold" compartment and get clean by soaping up and jumping into the ocean (or rinsing off with buckets if you're not in the mood for a swim!). When it’s time to eat, our cook will keep you nourished with three meals per day.
Each day, you will be part of a Watch Group, a group of 5-7 students who rotate through “watches” which are onboard activities related to sailing the ship. Your Watch Group will be led by Watch Leaders, our experienced deckhand educators. Learn more about Watch Rotations below!
Joining you will be 12 professional crew including a Coast Guard Licensed Captain, Mate, Deckhand Educators, an Engineer, and Cook.
The Ambassador experience immerses students in onboard living, sailing, and nature. Students' cell phones and any other technology are stored away for the duration of the voyage.
Watch Groups
Aboard a tall ship, your watch group is your home base—a group of 5-7 students with two or three crew members acting as your Watch Leaders. You'll rotate through all kinds of activities with your watch group while you're on board.
Chores
Everyone helps keep things clean aboard Denis Sullivan—all students participate in chores like washing dishes after meals and scrubbing Denis Sullivan's deck with the saltwater fire hose!
Daytime Rotations
While you sail, you and your group will rotate through three stations:
Active Watch
When you are on Active Watch, it means that your group is responsible for all aspects of sailing the ship, from steering and sail handling to completing hourly boat checks.
Seamanship Lessons
During Seamanship Lessons, your watch leaders will teach you a little bit of everything you need to know to be a sailor - knot-tying, shanty-singing, navigation, and more!
Reading & Reflection
Reading & Reflection is for taking a break from the action of the ship - time to read a book, write in your journal, draw the sunset, or just watch the ocean go by!
An Unforgettable Voyage
Leaving from and returning to St. Croix, USVI, students will get to sail throughout the US Virgin Islands and other Caribbean Islands. Exact itinerary TBD.
Each program offers 1-2 Shore Excursions—field trips from the boat to visit interesting sites on land. In past years, we've visited lighthouses, gone kayaking in bioluminescent bays, snorkeled in various reefs, and more.
While you’re away, your family and friends can keep up with your trip by reading our online Ship's Log— complete with a "Where's Denis Sullivan" feature!
