This past spring, I spent 80 days on an 88-foot schooner in the Caribbean as a Sea|mester student. There is no typical “Day in the life” for a Sea|mester student. Every day is different, yet somehow, I managed to take and pass 4 college level classes, travel to 15 different islands, take finals and midterms, learn to sail on a classically rigged yacht, and all in 80 days.
We started in English Harbor, Antigua and then sailed 3 days down to Grenada after exploring Nevis. From Grenada, we island hopped back up to Carriacou, Union Island, Tobago Keys, Mayreau, Bequia, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, Saint Barthes, Saba, Sint Ustatius, and back to Antigua for the Antigua Classics Regatta.
I grew up sailing in the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay so I was more than comfertable on a sailboat. However, I soon learned that there was alot to get used to while on board. Instead of just raising two sails like at home, I was raising 6 with nothing more than pure strength and a wooden pin. Ocean Star has a main, fore, stay, jib, fj, and fisherman’s sail. It was a lot of learning; it’s almost like having sailing experience didn’t matter when everything was different.
Living on board with 16 other stranger was no short of a challenge, yet I made some friends I hope to keep forever. We all took on different responsibilities while standing as crew and student. We took classes, learned to cook for 20 people, took salt water showers every day, woke up in the midle of the night for anchor watch, hiked some of the talled peaks in the Caribbean, endured several rain filled passages between islands, and much more.
This trip was a once in a lifetime oppertunity and I would go again in a heartbeat. I saw and experienced so many amazing things and it has truly changed my life.