Location: Statia
You can never have enough sail days, and today, we welcomed a beautiful passage from St. Barths to Statia. The morning began a little later than usual, as everyone was allowed to sleep an additional half-hour and was awoken by a delicious meal of eggy bread sandwiches. Following breakfast cleanup, the shipmates and our two oceanography teachers met onshore for a class in the shade of St. Barth’s palm trees. Once we were cleared out of customs, we dropped our dock lines, hauled up both anchors, and motored out of the Port of Gustavia into open water. While in irons, we set the main, then the for’sl, followed by the staysail and the jib. For the next 6 hours, we sailed a beautiful and comfortable port tack to St. Eustatius. Jibing around the southern tip of the island, all hands were called on deck to strike the sails. After the anchor was dropped and the sails flaked to perfection, it was time for a well-earned ocean shower. After days of being on the dock in St. Barth’s and Antigua with only land showers available, it was nice to once again have the opportunity to jump into the pristine, clear Caribbean waters with shampoo in the hair. Feeling fresh and clean, the hungry crew sat down to spicy Lentil Surprise, and now, as the sun sets on the horizon, MTE commences.