Location: Falmouth Harbour, Antigua
Today felt like a million years and a second, all at once. I started the day off at six, on my last sail watch with watch team three. A few stray stars dusted the dimly lit blue sky, and as the sun began to rise, it cast the stern in a yellowish glow. The boat rocked gently back and forth, the high side becoming the low and then the high again once more as we gathered first at the foresail and then at the main, lowering them for the last time. It was a bitter-sweet moment- our watch team often wound up being the ones to bring us in after passage, and I was sad that it would be our last time. But Kate, Kebo, Alexis, Katie, and Mia had done an amazing job bringing us in, and I couldn’t have been prouder.
Antigua greeted us with blue skies and familiarity. I wasn’t sure if I welcomed it- I was excited to see the island I’d gotten only a glimpse of, but as I jumped in the water that had become my home (and my shower) for the last two months, I couldn’t help but think that this was it- this was the last week I had with my found family, the last week of adventure before life began to return to normal. Though I guess, in a way, for the crew of Ocean Star F22, life never really will return to “normal.” From our first passage to our last classes, we’ve all grown and learned so much and have gained life lessons that we’ll be taking with us when we return home or move on to our next adventure, wherever that may be. The people who boarded Ocean Star in the fall of 2022 aren’t the same people who will be leaving it in one weeks time. We’re all taking home a piece of the boat in our stories, our pictures, and our memories.
It felt like days before lunchtime finally arrived. Many of us chose to spend the hours swimming, while others made pancakes or studied. I sat tucked into my usual corner between the deck box and the helm, switching between reading and studying for our upcoming Marine Biology exam, the last of the se(a)mester. The sun beat down on my skin, and in the warmth, it was easy to forget that it was already December- winter doesn’t tend to be on one’s radar in the Caribbean, and time can flow into an endless stream without the seasons to divide it.
When lunchtime arrived, I was ready. I’d eaten nothing but cereal since six o clock that morning and was excited for whatever yummy vegetarian meal Heather had made for us that day (I do love that Heather’s usually head chef when I’m skipper because I get to gush about her cooking). We had tofu bowls, and they were delicious.
We shuffled into the saloon after cleanup for our last exam in OCB- I felt a mixture of relief after anxiously studying for the last week and sadness because this exam signified the end of our Marine Biology classes. Steph has put so much into this class for us, and I’ve taken so much out of it. Getting to learn marine biology on a boat where you can see the things you’re learning about happen is something I won’t ever forget and an experience I know can never be replicated. I learned so much in this class, furthering my passion and excitement for the ocean and everything that lives in it, and I’m not quite ready for it to be over. That being said, all good things must come to an end, and all endings lead to new beginnings.
I definitely felt that sentiment during our review for our seamanship exam. When Drew plainly stated that “you all know how to sail this boat,” as obvious as I may sound, I realized he was right. We did just sail a boat nearly entirely by ourselves over the course of two nights after starting off the trip with little to no experience with boats at all. The fact that we came this far in such a short time is really jarring at times, and I feel more confident in my ability to take this seamanship exam than September I ever would’ve imagined.
After seamanship, many of us showered for the first time since we’d left Statia, and it was so refreshing to be back in the water today, and I didn’t mind the chill at all but rather embraced it as a break from the beating sun.
We wrapped up the day with tofu and naan. After two months of eating tofu nearly every day, I honestly thought I’d be sick of it by now, but I found myself coming back for seconds as usual. Everyone else seemed to have the same sentiment, and the tofu tray was soon empty. We wrapped up the night with a squeeze, and we all went around in a circle telling our best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) dad jokes, so I’ll leave you with this one- Why is the ocean salty? Because the land doesn’t wave back.
To my Aunt Gabbi- Happy birthday love. I miss you so much, and I’m so excited to see you when I get back, and to my family, I love you all so much, and I can’t believe I’m going to see you all in only two weeks.
Goodnight Antigua!
Photo 1: Kebo on the helm
Photos 2and3: The final foresail flake
Photo 4: The sailboat anchored next to us
Photo 5: The sailboat at night