Day 1- Adventure Awaits
Location: West End, Tortola
Hello Friends! The day is here, us staff onboard the great ship Friendship has been working tirelessly to prepare for our incoming students, and we could not be more excited! Be it provisioning, cleaning, repairing, or whatever else, we are ready to cast off our dock lines and head out into adventurous waters. But first, a little bit about us staff.
Anne Kosinski
MATE/MEDIC
Annie grew up in the desert of Tucson, Arizona, where the closest body of water was the pool in her backyard. Her love for the ocean, craving for adventure, and desire to practice medicine have fueled many trips around the world. In undergrad, Annie obtained her EMT certification to work in the hospital as an ER tech and partake in medical missions in Ecuador and Tanzania. She also had the opportunity to join the S/Y Vela Seamester program in the summer of 2022 from the Caribbean through the Mediterranean, where sailing and scuba diving found a special place in her heart. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a BS in Health Sciences, majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences and minoring in Marine Sciences, Annie hopes to attend medical school without missing any opportunity to explore the world. Currently living in the Arizona desert, Annie is excited to spend her summer back on the water with GXG!
Izy Lyon
DIVE INSTRUCTOR
Izy has been working in experiential education since 2019 and can’t wait to share her love of the marine ecosystem with fellow adventurers. She took her first breaths underwater while aboard a Seamester program in 2018. Izy earned her divemaster certification at Marine Conservation Philippines, where she learned about the marine ecosystem and how to protect it for future generations. She became an instructor to unite her passion for the environment with her love of youth development and is so excited to see what her students will accomplish. When she is not teaching scuba, Izy loves to backpack, climb, and spend time with her awesome nieces and nephew.
Garrett Walker
SKIPPER
Garrett grew up just outside of Denver, Colorado. As a student aboard S/Y Vela, Garrett discovered his passion for sailing and decided to pursue it. After this voyage, Garrett took his talents to Maine, where he worked aboard a traditional schooner, and to S/Y Argo for delivery from Thailand to South Africa. Garrett enjoys hockey, playing guitar, reading, and hiking when not sailing.