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July 7 - Day 1

Location: West End, Tortola

n/a

Shipmates arrive, get settled, call home, pick a bunk, and get ready to sail off tomorrow.

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July 8 - Day 2

Location: The Bight, Norman Island

Jose

Today we got an introduction into sailing. We had to face into the wind, and we slowly raised the sails. We then practiced tacking, to get the hang of it. We hooked on to a buoy. We took the dinghy, which has been named Buzz, and got to an area where we went snorkeling. We visited 2 dark caves, which is said to be the place that Blackbeard used to hide his men. We went back and took Private Retreats to The Bight on motor only. We had our first "squeeze" and dinner a bit after six.

 

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July 9 - Day 3

Location: Savannah Bay, Virgin Gorda

Lily

Weather was perfect for sailing, it was windy and very sunny out. The wind blew harder than any other day we have been here. Sea was sometimes rough, but for the most part it was very nice. We went to the Baths in Virgin Gorda, and walked around inside them and outside them. It was so much fun to jump off the 10 foot cliff at the Baths, but it was a struggle getting up on the rock. The best thing that happened to me and our team was when we put the main sail and the jib up all by ourselves and we only used 6 of 10 questions!

 

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July 10 - Day 4

Location: Savannah Bay, Virgin Gorda

Kaye

It was rotation day today. Our shipmates went windsurfing, SCUBA diving, wakeboarding and waterskiing. Dinner was particularly good. We had garden burgers and mashed potatoes. Afterwards we had a Lifeworks Forum where we all had a nice conversation about peer pressure. Gabby did really well at windsurfing / wakeboarding; Ben H. got to be really good at wakeboarding; Ivy made dinner fun with his funny comments; Laura and Abby got a little sun; Ben S had some interesting contributions to the Lifeworks chat; Jessica was in a movie; Caine was really good at windsurfing; Sam had an awesome time SCUBA diving and did well; Nicole contributed a lot of great stuff to the Lifeworks chat; Forest was the best at windsurfing and picked it up right away.

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July 11 - Day 5

Location: Vixen Point, Virgin Gorda

Ian

Everyone woke up a little late this morning, so rather than the planned breakfast of French toast we ate cereal. It was a rotation day with windsurfing, skiing and wakeboarding, diving, and knot tying. The open water divers did confined water dive two and the advanced divers did a navigation dive and got followed by a barracuda. More boats pulled up to the beach this afternoon.

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July 12 - Day 6

Location: Vixen Point, Virgin Gorda

Caine

Today, after having a breakfast of cereal, we started our rotation day. Some of us went diving first while others sailed on the Rhodes 19s. Afterward, our whole boat enjoyed the sunny, perfect weather by laying on the beach and sailing the Picos. Lunch was then made and we all separated and went to our different dive chats which were followed by a diving lesson.

 

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July 13 - Day 7

Location: Mountain Point, Virgin Gorda

Travis

Today was a rotation day filled with lots of fun, new experiences and memories, and a ton of sun. First we all went windsurfing, and I might add I was really impressed with the whole group because between falling and getting soaked, we all managed to get up and ride with the wind. Then we went SCUBA diving, which so far has been an amazing learning experience. After SCUBA diving, those who wished went wakeboarding and waterskiing while others sunbathed. The night was the best. There was a dance where you got to see old faces and meet new ones as well. Lets just say everyone danced the night away.