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British Virgin Islands - 2016, Session 1

Staff Update Day 1

Location: West End, Tortola

Fritz, Ashley and I are counting down the days until we finally get to meet our shipmates and set sail. After two weeks of preparation we are feeling ready. We've assembled and fired up all thing dinghies and ski boats to try out all the new gear. We have put together and practiced coaching each other on the picks and windsurfers. Bella Vita has been fitted out with all of our gear and filled with food. We are so excited to have both advanced and Vega sailors and divers. Can't wait until we are a complete crew of 15!
Here is an introduction to the crew of La Bella Vita:
Carolyn: Skipper
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 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. Wanting to spend more time in the places she visited, Carolyn began to seek out work opportunities abroad. Her most recent experiences include conducting sociology research in India, teaching English in Mauritius, and working on sheep and cattle ranches in Australia. Since the fall of 2014 she has combined her love of the sea and living abroad by working aboard sailing vessels on the northern shores of New Zealand.
Fritz: Divemaster/Mate
Fritz was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and now lives in Virginia. He grew up sailing Hobie Cats in South Carolina, which instilled a love for the sea in him. He currently holds his 200 Ton Yachtmaster Limited certification and is a Divemaster. Fritz is studies Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia, where he is the Fleet Captain of the UVA sailing team. When hes not on the water he enjoys rock climbing/bouldering. Fritz joined AQ in 2015 as the skipper of Manic Compression; coming back to the program this year he looks forward to teaching sailing and leading dives.
Ashley: Dive Instructor/Mate
Ashley was born and raised on the coast of New Jersey, where her passion for the sea first blossomed. During her sophomore year at Roger Williams in Rhode Island she studied abroad with Sea|mester, where she sailed from the BVI to Tahiti on Argo. After graduating with a degree in marine biology she worked onboard New Jersey's official tall ship A. J. Meerwald, and has most recently spent time on Ocean Star during her refit period in Antigua. Her favorite animal is the sea turtle and she can't wait to be in the BVI and diving with them again!