Location: Les Saintes, Guadeloupe
Can’t believe we are over two weeks into the trip! It has been amazing so far! The views waking up in Les Saintes have been amazing, and we all feel very lucky to have had this time here to dive and explore the island. We woke up today to some muffins cooked by Rae, and then the students had leadership class with Ash. Afterward, we actually moved OStar across the channel to anchor in a more sheltered spot and be closer to town. Moving OStar is always fun, and her anchors came up the smoothest they have so far this trip! Sierra was a champ and did an excellent job flaking both anchor chains, which each had more than 90m out. Once we were unattached from the bottom, we enjoyed some lunch and re-anchored in our new spot.
Then, Ash and Sam went to shore for some provisions, and Hedrek went to go get our sails (all ready for our next passage!). We then had marine bio class- go ecology! While we had a blast in the salon learning some new material (I always have fun, and I’m sure the students did too…), the really cool marine aspect of the day came when we all came up on deck after class and heard Isaac yell “Whale!!” Followed by a burst of water from a blowhole! We all rushed to the port side in time to see a dorsal fin about 5-10m off our port quarter and watch it swim under the boat! Sierra and Sarah were already in the water off our starboard side for their ocean showers and were very confused about what was going on – that is, until the pilot whale breached again 10m off our starboard side right next to them! So crazy and something you can only get from living on a boat for 80 days! (I wish my lecture had been on marine mammals, but that would have felt too staged). After that excitement, the students got ready for some dinner onshore and their first sign-out night. We had a beautiful sunset, and the students really enjoyed their time onshore looking a little less…salty. We all got back to the boat, just in time to put the provisions away! Late-night for many of us here (I’m a big 9 pm bedtime person), but a wonderful day with memories that will last a lifetime!
From Ostar, miss you all back home, but we are all doing great and having the time of our lives 🙂
Picture 1: Rae, Sunny, Kelly, and Sarah all schmancy for their dinner onshore
Picture 2: The view from the restaurant- beautiful Les Saintes
Picture 3: Part of the group dinghy to shore for dinner (peep the fancy clothes getting a little wet)
Picture 4: Sarah and Sierra selfie while getting ready