Bellatrix

We woke up to the Star-Spangled Banner blasting through the speakers to get us ready for race day. Race day is when all the boats in the fleet race, but today was extra special because we were competing for the Irma Cup. We started off strong by pulling the number one starting spot from the hat. Jack was our sail spotter while Miles was at the helm, with Harper at his side easing the main sheet, while Athena was finishing pulling up the main halyard after the sweaters, Wyle, Shams, and I had pulled it up as far as we could. The race started with some controversy because the faster boats only had to tow one dinghy, which gave them a big advantage; it came down to a chaotic race for second place. With music blasting and spirits high, we managed to pull ahead on the final tack and cross the finish in second place! Now we started our final sail back to Sopher's Hole, where we docked and started our two-hour cleaning process, which the staff called boat appreciation. This involved everyone cleaning their own room and bathroom. Once we were finished, Wyle, Shams, and Harper helped clean the main inside cabin of the boat. This involved scrubbing cushions, sweeping floors, and wiping down windows. Helping clean the deck and the rest of the outside of the boat were Jack, Athena, Lily, Miles, and me. Athena was our main window cleaner while Lily, Jack, and I scrubbed the deck. Miles was in charge of the cushions and making sure they were clean and ready for the next group.

We finished up, and after getting some phone time to check into flights, we made our way to the town for shore time. We all ate lunch at a table at Pussers Restaurant, Bar and Grill. Luckily, Lily was able to find Iron supplements, which she was excited about, so we all celebrated this as Wyle and Shams had Philly cheesesteaks and Jack and Athena shared some Calamari. Everyone was in a good mood as we came back to the boat to shower and get ready for our final dinner/BBQ with the rest of the fleet. This is when our first toilet was clogged on Bellatrix (it's surprising we made it this far with no other issues). Unfortunately, Wyle's best efforts were not enough to restore the toilet to normal, so we had to start sharing one bathroom for five people. We were able to eventually get everyone ready, and we walked to Omar's Sand Pit. After a quick dinner, we made our way back to the dock, where we gathered for the director of ActionQuest, Mike, who gave us a farewell speech. He ended by reading The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. We made our way back at around nine and had open dock time to talk to other boats. We will be back on Bellatrix by 10:30 to prepare for our early departures tomorrow. This was an incredible day and a fun way to end our amazing Ten Day expedition!!!