Sailing Intensive 2006
My school, ironically known as SAIL, has this little event every year called Intensives. It's when the whole school chooses an activity or destination and takes part in it over the course of a week. This year I chose to go sailing in the Keys. I begged my parents for $700.00, bought snorkeling equipment and packed everything I thought I would need.
Little did I know what I'd be getting myself into...
Day 1: The whole group consisting of my best friend Jessie, Safa, Allison, Kevin, Stephanie, the captain John, the first mate Dustin, and the female chaperon Currie, loaded into two vans at Borders and set off on our way. We drove over ten hours into Miami, and past Key Largo into Islamorada. We all unloaded our belongings into the 41 foot Morgan, cleverly named the "Tradewind", and hung out for the night at the harbor. While there I sat and watched iguana's, learned how to tie a cleat knot, and played cards.
Day 2:We sailed off into the Atlantic! Actually, we had to motor out, there wasn't enough wind. Snorkeled at Hen and Chickens reef and saw a sea turtle along with a few schools of fish.
After this I forget what happened which day...
-I got dragged by the boat. The ship was going 3 knots which was way too fast, so my bathing suit was falling off in the water, overall it was pretty fun.
-I volunteered to be man overboard. I jumped off the side and swam around in 200 feet deep water until I could get back on the ship.
-Molasses Reef was my favorite. I saw two nurse sharks fighting over a fish, parrot fish, Sgt. Majors, and beautiful reef and coral.
-Key Largo Dry Rocks and Christ of the Deep. This is where I found Jesus! He was 10 feet below the surface of this reef! Not to mention he was a huge bronze statue. I was so happy that I found him.
-Carysfort Lighthouse was a beautiful reef! Huge brain coral, a territorial eel, a 100 ft lighthouse, shallow nervewrecking water, an eagle ray, six or seven lobsters.
-Over the course of the nine days, I spotted the first group of dolphins. They swam right under the bow! Dustin also saw some sea turtles mating at the surface.
-Steering at the helm was an experience! I sang "Yellow Submarine" and some pirate tunes while Safa played the harmonica.
-I navigated the trip. I pinpointed everywhere we had gone, and how many nautical miles it would take to get to where we were going. I love to navigate!
-Raising the masts is way cool. For some reason I was mostly raising the mizzen, but I got to jibe and raise the main once in a while.
-IMAGINE DRINKING DILLUTED TANG FOR A WHOLE WEEK
-Burritos, mac and cheese, tuna, chili, "sloopy" joes and black beans. YUMMY.
-Palace, Zero, Egyptian Rapture, BS, Rummy, Blackjack, Estimation and GREED.
-Peeing in the ocean and taking baths with Dr. Bronners.
-Having to use the head. The most difficult experience. THE HEAD IS DEAD.
-Back at Treasure Harbor I was cleating the stern to the dock when I saw something wierd in the water. It was a manatee! I quietly told Captain John and everyone came to see it! I can't believe it's illegal to rub the manatee's back. I did it anyways, and it rolled over on its side. We were hosing off the boat and we "accidently" left it on, and "by chance" the manatee drank the fresh water. Which is apparently illegal too.
Anyways, I had the best time of my life! Life changing experience, I recommend it to all! I want to go back!
Tommorrow: Gamble Rogers Folk Festival
Little did I know what I'd be getting myself into...
Day 1: The whole group consisting of my best friend Jessie, Safa, Allison, Kevin, Stephanie, the captain John, the first mate Dustin, and the female chaperon Currie, loaded into two vans at Borders and set off on our way. We drove over ten hours into Miami, and past Key Largo into Islamorada. We all unloaded our belongings into the 41 foot Morgan, cleverly named the "Tradewind", and hung out for the night at the harbor. While there I sat and watched iguana's, learned how to tie a cleat knot, and played cards.
Day 2:We sailed off into the Atlantic! Actually, we had to motor out, there wasn't enough wind. Snorkeled at Hen and Chickens reef and saw a sea turtle along with a few schools of fish.
After this I forget what happened which day...
-I got dragged by the boat. The ship was going 3 knots which was way too fast, so my bathing suit was falling off in the water, overall it was pretty fun.
-I volunteered to be man overboard. I jumped off the side and swam around in 200 feet deep water until I could get back on the ship.
-Molasses Reef was my favorite. I saw two nurse sharks fighting over a fish, parrot fish, Sgt. Majors, and beautiful reef and coral.
-Key Largo Dry Rocks and Christ of the Deep. This is where I found Jesus! He was 10 feet below the surface of this reef! Not to mention he was a huge bronze statue. I was so happy that I found him.
-Carysfort Lighthouse was a beautiful reef! Huge brain coral, a territorial eel, a 100 ft lighthouse, shallow nervewrecking water, an eagle ray, six or seven lobsters.
-Over the course of the nine days, I spotted the first group of dolphins. They swam right under the bow! Dustin also saw some sea turtles mating at the surface.
-Steering at the helm was an experience! I sang "Yellow Submarine" and some pirate tunes while Safa played the harmonica.
-I navigated the trip. I pinpointed everywhere we had gone, and how many nautical miles it would take to get to where we were going. I love to navigate!
-Raising the masts is way cool. For some reason I was mostly raising the mizzen, but I got to jibe and raise the main once in a while.
-IMAGINE DRINKING DILLUTED TANG FOR A WHOLE WEEK
-Burritos, mac and cheese, tuna, chili, "sloopy" joes and black beans. YUMMY.
-Palace, Zero, Egyptian Rapture, BS, Rummy, Blackjack, Estimation and GREED.
-Peeing in the ocean and taking baths with Dr. Bronners.
-Having to use the head. The most difficult experience. THE HEAD IS DEAD.
-Back at Treasure Harbor I was cleating the stern to the dock when I saw something wierd in the water. It was a manatee! I quietly told Captain John and everyone came to see it! I can't believe it's illegal to rub the manatee's back. I did it anyways, and it rolled over on its side. We were hosing off the boat and we "accidently" left it on, and "by chance" the manatee drank the fresh water. Which is apparently illegal too.
Anyways, I had the best time of my life! Life changing experience, I recommend it to all! I want to go back!
Tommorrow: Gamble Rogers Folk Festival