Location: Tobago Cay
This morning was a beautiful sunrise in Chatham Bay. We picked up anchor before breakfast so we could get underway to the Tobago Cays. It was incredible to be lifting the anchor in the morning sun and being able to look down and see the chain and anchor as we pulled it up because of the crystal-clear visibility. If you’re imagining the sort of picture you see up at an airport before you go on holiday, dream bigger and more pictures. As everybody gets more familiar with the boat and operating her, it’s great to be able to have tasks like raising and dropping anchors led by the student team. It’s so cool to see every day how much more the student team grows in knowledge and confidence.
It was around an hour’s passage around the corner to the Tobago Cays. The Cays are uninhabited islands that are a part of the Grenadines. It has been some time since I was here last, and motoring through the turquoise archipelago was even more incredible than I remember it. After we anchored, we promptly moved into oceanography class, which had everyone fascinated as the class explored deeper into the properties and mysteries of water. Not being enrolled in any of the academics, I do find it amazing to overhear the creative and wonderful content we teach on board while in the background or doing an odd job. After this, the students had a navigation class in Seamanship. Navigation is one of the fundamental parts of life onboard a sailboat, so it’s so fun getting to learn and teach this skill in this practical environment.
The afternoon gave a real taste of how pristine this marine protected area is when the students did a science lab. This lab was based on identifying different types of turtles and seagrass (although some of the seagrass is invasive), and what better way to learn about different species than to get in the water and snorkel with these beautiful creatures? I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘Woah, that’s crazy, no way there’s so many turtles. Well, I’m glad to tell you that multiple species and numbers in double figures were found in just a short few hours.’ Some bycatch from the turtle spotting was seeing other species of fish like triggerfish, boxfish, and even a spotted eagle ray.
Before dinner, we had leadership class. This class was a student-presented and led class on the topic of understanding yourself. This a key skill as a leader, not only being able to work as a team but understanding your strengths and weaknesses and what you are able to contribute. The class included the Myers-Briggs test, which we all completed with guidance from Alaina. This is a personality test that relates different leadership traits. Everyone agreed that they learned a little something more about themselves.
We ate a delicious dinner after the sun went down and then rolled into the squeeze question of the day. The question was, if you were showing an alien around Earth, what do you think is the weirdest thing you could show it? Some of the answers were a hot dog eating contest, black Friday at a shopping center, an octopus, a Frisbee, a toucan, and deep sea creatures. As I was writing this, I was interrupted by a giant stingray that swam by the boat. This is what living the dream looks like!
Shout out to Mom, Dad, Skye, and the pups. Miss you all <3