Over the past two weeks, we have been unbelievably busy preparing for today. Every year we send down a 40ft container filled with non-perishable foods, new gear, and supplies we don't store in the BVI year-round. All of this stuff needs to be sorted, inventoried, and set up for the program. Today we were kept busy fooding the boats, and we also loaded on all the dive gear and tanks! We can't wait to get them in the water to try them out. With only a day to go, the boat is ready to rock, and the only thing we are really missing is our new crew. As we put the finishing touches on the boat, we can't wait to meet our ten shipmates and introducing them to the fun and exciting world of diving and sailing. But the most exciting thing coming up is throwing off the dock lines and watching West End get smaller and smaller in the distance. For the next 20 days, the crew of Celestial Storm will have the experience of a lifetime. Welcome aboard Celestial Storm!
Here's an introduction to the crew of Celestial Storm:
Nick-skipper
Nick was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. Because he grew up in a coastal city, he easily found himself attracted to anything and everything on the water. He began sailing at the age of 15 as a student at ActionQuest and later studied criminal justice at the University of Mississippi. After graduating in 2010, Nick followed his love of the water to a career in the maritime world. He began working on mega yachts as a deckhand and worked his way up to 1st mate, earning his RYA Yachtmaster 200 ton and Officer Of The Watch certifications. Nick joined the ActionQuest team in 2008 and is also the crew on Sea|mester vessels Argo and Ocean Star.
Linda-dive instructor/mate
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Linda spent a great deal of her upbringing on sailing boats, and she knew at a young age that she wanted to pursue a career at sea. At the age of sixteen, she moved to the U.S. to follow a dream about a professional hockey career but later returned to Sweden to attend the University of Uppsala. While at the University, she obtained her PADI scuba instructor license and worked abroad in Greece and Spain in the summers. She graduated with a B.Sc. in molecular biology, and went on to study an M.Sc. in environmental toxicology, and was given a stipend to do her project on crocodiles in Costa Rica. Linda loves adventure and is planning to sail around the world as soon as possible. This will be her third summer at ActionQuest, and she is very excited to inspire young individuals to challenge themselves to achieve unimaginable things.
Carolyn-mate
Born 500 meters from the ocean in Rhode Island, Carolyn has been drawn to it from a young age. After being bitten by the sailing bug at 18, she spent her summers working on classic charter sailboats. She graduated from Brown University with a BA in International Relations in May 2014 and decided to take to the waters on any boat with sails. Having grown up with a French mother and German father, Carolyn has been traveling for as long as she can remember. Her most recent trips include India, Mauritius, South Korea, Belize, and Australia. In the fall of 2014, she combined her love of the sea and living abroad by working aboard sailing vessels on the northern shores of New Zealand.
