Location: Falmouth, Antigua
With the trip narrowing down, it seems we have saved some of the best for last. Since getting to Antigua, we haven’t stepped foot off the boat until today, when we got off and immediately left land again in a sailing dinghy! We all caught the wind and took off on our Lazers, RS ventures, and Hobie cats, Some of our crew are experienced dinghy sailers, but most have never stepped foot in one, including me. With captain Hendo skippering our dinghy, we took off and reached Vela across the bay. Passing by, the staff on board looked so proud at how far we had come with our sailing, even when some of us casually drifted into a superyacht cough cough Joel and Max cough cough. After sailing back to the shop and folding our sails up, we indulged in some (virgin) Pina Coladas and banana bread courtesy of the sailing center. Then we got back to Vela to continue our advanced diving course, which involved some underwater games with buoyancy. After warming up with backflips and some tomfoolery underwater. Caro set up a limbo bar for us to practice going as low to the bottom as we could without touching; most of our tanks were used up after laughing so much down there from others trying the limbo. The dive ended with everyone in my group becoming certified advanced divers, and by the end of the day, we will only have advanced divers on board after tonight’s night dive.
As I write my last blog, ending my last day as skipper, I not only reflect on this day but the whole trip. It has been a wild ride, and Im so thankful that I was given the opportunity to come on this boat and call Vela my home. I wouldn’t want any other 32 people to live on this boat with, and each and everyone brings a different unique skill or quality that makes Vela so special in my heart. Parents, you did a good job because your kids are sick!! I don’t want this journey to end, but it has been the best experience of my life and makes me want to go out and do more wild things. Our boat mom Sam told us in the beginning, “don’t let this be the craziest thing you do,” After these three months, I won’t let that happen.
Skipper Jimmy out!
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for helping send me on this adventure. I love you to the moon and back
and tell those cats I’ll be home soon!!