Hagan Time

Hello, hello, hello! I am incredibly THRILLED to be writing the first blog post for Minerva! It’s been a bit too quiet these past few days as we staff have been stocking the boats with food, preparing lessons, and eagerly awaiting the people who make the place…the students! Our new home, the lovely monohull Hagan Time, will soon be filled with laughter, excitement, and a lifetime full of memories. We have some adventures in store for us like hiking in Antigua, glass blowing in Saba, and sailing through the night with only the stars and our fellow crew as company. However, more than any postcard-worthy moment, as a former GXG student myself, I can say that the truly life-changing moments will be the little mundane ones that sneak up on you. Perhaps a ridiculous conversation in the dishy pit, or a dance party that delays dinner ever so slightly… regardless of the big moments and the little ones, we staff cannot wait to set sail!

Now I could go on and on about how amazing ActionQuest is, but I will spare you and allow your loved ones to take it from here… Let’s meet the crew!!

Our Skipper, Riley

Riley spent most of his early life and teenage years racing dinghies, keelboats, performance catamarans, and other racing-oriented sailboats. Riley had his boating license by age 12, First Aid/CPR certification by 15, and became a Level 1 and 2 U.S. Sailing Certified coach at age 17. Riley also gained a Pre-Engineering Certification through his high school and spent time building docks and seawalls in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. He has participated in multiple World Championship regattas on the east coast of the U.S. and began some Olympic training in the Nacra 17 class in 2021. Riley spent four years as a race team sailing coach for a community-based sailing program in Sarasota, Florida, where he met Travis, Mike, and the majority of the GXG office team. Riley joined ActionQuest in 2021 as a mate. Since then, he has joined the office during the year as an enrollment advisor and has spent time working for all of the brands underneath the GXG tree, also getting his 200-ton Yachtmaster in Spring 2024. Riley spends almost all his time on the water, whether it be sailing, surfing, fishing, or any other sport on or in the water. When it comes to teaching, Riley is dedicated to teaching the sport that he has learned to love in an easy and fun environment, even though his background is mainly focused on high-performance racing. Riley also has some experience in organic produce farming and mollusk/crustacean farming throughout the Southeast United States.

Our Mate and Medic, Hannah!

Hannah grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she spent most of her time skiing, backpacking, and exploring the outdoors. She is currently at CU Boulder, where she is studying psychology with a focus in child studies and human development. Despite spending most of her time landlocked, Hannah has always deeply loved the ocean and all of its marine life. In 2024, she sailed with Seamester on S/Y Argo. While crossing the Indian Ocean, her passion for sailing and the underwater world grew even more. Hannah has experience working at various summer camps in the past and recently got her Wilderness First Responder certification. She can not wait for a summer full of sailing and diving in the BVI!