Location: Portsmouth, Dominica
I remember once growing up, I didnt want to do something, and I remember my
Dad saying, But Kackie, this is the only [insert date here] that youll ever have. He
actually only said this once, but it has always stuck with me. So today I am
reminded that today is the only 08 April 2025 I will ever experience, and my last
day 78 of program ever. Which means this is also my last blog ever. HOLY COW
THIS IS MY LAST BLOG EVER. To the loyal readers, family, and friends of
Seamester staff and students- I love that you can share a part of our experiences
through these entries. At the same time, its impossible to truly understand the
experiences of those on board without being here. Yesterday, we sat in the salon
discussing what the end of program means for all of us, and what going home will
mean. In many ways, going home is exciting. Kara, for one, told me her family would
be picking her up with an Oreo cheesecake in the car. In many other ways, going
home is nerve-racking. We have stripped ourselves of the noise of the modern world,
narrowing our focus to a singular mutual goal- to sail Argo across an ocean. And in
that process, we have formed unbreakable bonds, inexplicable memories,
and once-in-a-lifetimeexperiences.
So, when you ask your student, How was it?! Tell me
everything! when they get home, and they respond with a simple good or fun,
just know that it takes time to process all that has happened over the past three
months. I promise you, the stories will come out with time.
Ive worked for GXG for 4 years now. This company has given me more than sea
miles, dives, and stamps in a passport. GXG has given me my best friends, the
opportunity for personal growth, and the ability to be wholly and truly myself. I can
never adequately repay or thank the office enough for the experiences afforded to
me. And I hope that feeling is mutual amongst all who have been a part of this
experience with me. So thank you to the friends and families of Ben, Benny, Calum,
Cecily, Darien, Dave, Eli, Isaac, Kara, Kiki, Maddie, Meg, Nicole, Nini, Olympus,
Shane, Sylver, Talia, and Zac for the support you have provided them to get to be
here.
For the people who just want to know what happened today! Okay! This morning,
the students went ashore to speak with a local fishery and fishermen to learn more
about how fishing affects the local economy and environment. The students were
tasked to speak with the fishermen- get to know them, their life, their story, and
how they came into fishing. From there, the students politely asked to measure
some of their fish and ask about fishing methods, bycatch, and other
environmental impacts. Later on, the students will have the opportunity to look up
local regulations to see if the catch was within size specs. Pretty darn cool for a
marine bio class. Plus, they got the added benefit of getting to stop by the
supermarket on the way home for a cold drink and a snack.
Meanwhile, Nicole and I dove off the mooring ball we were moored to. The mooring
balls are owned and operated by the famous Sea Cat. Sea Cat (legend) lets us tie
onto his moorings in exchange for use, diving down 100 feet to check out the
integrity of the tackle holding the morning line down to the sea floor. Pretty good
deal if you ask me! And the mooring line looked secure!
When the students returned home, we freed ourselves from the ball and started
our journey up the coast to Portsmouth, Dominica, for the night. Here we finally set
up the boom swing!!!! Videos are incoming on the YouTube channel, Im sure. This is
always a highlight of the trip. We swung, flipped, and jumped until dinner, in which
Dave made a tikka masala.
My squeeze question for the night was to propose a trade with someone from the
group. I asked Benny if hed like to trade his Epifanes t-shirt (Epifanes is the
varnish brand we use on argo) for my beloved Reef Fishes t-shirt. The trade is
being considered. But apparently, my reef fish t-shirt is a hot commodity. Even
cooler, because it was made by a former Seamester staff- shoutout Anna
Pedersen and Salty Earth Studios! She sells them online! Clothing holds a lot of
sentimental value, so I recognize that accepting trades is often difficult, but its
pretty cool to get to swap something with someone who lives on the other side of
the country or maybe the other side of the world, knowing they will value that item
because of the memories youve made together.
Tonight, while I write this blog, I have proposed one final navmaster challenge- the
students will navigate to Les Saintes tomorrow using entirely traditional navigation!
No GPS! I am so proud of all their energy and effort in this course and am
excited to see how well they do tomorrow.
Anyways, thats me. Signing off!
Thank you, GXG, for the best 4 years and for molding me into the person I am today.