Location: West End, Tortola
Last night ( The evening of day 15) was spent writing “cards”. These cards are one of AQ’s longest-standing traditions. Everyone on the boat writes a notecard to everyone else on the boat and anyone else they would like to write to. These notes are, as Matt so eloquently put it, “a word vomit” of love. They consist of fun memories, hopes for the future, and compliments. As one might assume, this night can turn fairly emotional. It also tends to run fairly late as AQ nights go. What this means is that shippies start their day 16 very tired.
Event Horizon and her complement of crew departed the Bight anchorage in Norman Island shortly after waking up en route to “The Indians” Dive site. Interesting rock formations and thriving coral patches, coupled with the knowledge that this was our last AQ dive, meant that this dive was a bittersweet affair. The final moments of the dive, however, reminded us all how much fun the group had enjoyed during the trip: The crew united to perform Player and AVI’s signature “ice spice” dace (ask your kids) and then proceeded to the mooring line to complete our safety stop. On our way there, A beautiful sea turtle was spotted ( I have chosen to name him Charles). “Charles” actually approached the group, a fairly uncommon experience with such creatures. Pictures were taken, and smiles popped up all around. Everyone’s day had started on a high note, a mood that we would do our best to maintain throughout what would be the toughest day on any AQ adventure.
As soon as we had surfaced and gear had been stowed, Matt assembled the crew and explained to us everything that needed to be completed on “Boat Appreciation Day”. The boats that AQ sails ( Aside from our dinghies) are all rented from Moorings charters in Road Town. This means that at the end of the third session, they must be completely cleaned. Every surface must be spotless, anything owned by AQ must be removed and inventoried, and all personal effects must be packed and prepared for the trip back home. This process began with all shippies packing our bags, then deep cleaning our cabins and the galley. All done while underway. Once we arrived back at the AQ base in the west end, more water-based cleaning occurred. The heads ( bathrooms) were thoroughly washed, along with the entire exterior surface of the deck. Every dish was removed and scrubbed, and all AQ gear property was removed from the boats and placed into storage for the next year. Not only did we need to break down our boat for the summer, but we also needed to help AQ, in general, prepare for its off-season. I had the privilege of going to “Dinghy Land,” where we drain, extract, clean, and disassemble all of AQs DInghys, an experience that, while physically challenging, was a lot of fun.
This level of cleaning, especially on a vessel as large as ours, will be an arduous task no matter how motivated the crew. The key difference, as Matt noted, however, was that this process could take two hours or it could take eight. Thankfully due to our strong-willed crew, impeccable DJ-ing, and our collective positive attitude, the job took no longer than needed. All of our crew was able to go on shore to spend what remained of their money on merch, candy, and a couple of cases of Red Bull. Until 4:30, our crew relaxed on shore, reminiscing over all of our favorite moments from the trip. At four thirty, we all returned to the boat to divide our AQ flag.
For all 17 days of our trip, each boat in the ActionQuest flotilla flies an AQ flag ( The exception being Go Beyond, a sect of AQ focused on service, they fly A Go Beyond flag). On the final day of the session, the flag is divided amongst the crew in exchange for each crew member making a Donation to VISAR (Virgin Islands Search And Rescue), a volunteer organization in the BVI. Numbers are thrown in a hat, and shippies are randomly elected to choose their flag pieces. These Flag pieces are then typically signed by everyone on the boat along with any other person with whom the student had meaningful interactions: Other boat staff, other shippies, or Upper-level staff, These flags become symbols of all the friends we make at AQ, and as many of you probably already know, these flags are cherished by AQ students. Covered in inside jokes, hearts, and many DandBs, these flags allow students to look back on all the fun they have had and help them to imagine all the fun they might have in future years.
As the sun began to set on our final night, we prepared for the barbecue. We dressed in what remained of our clean clothes, fixed our hair, and took some more pictures of the whole group. We then performed our second large-scale rendition of “Ice Spice” and set off toward Omars Fusion Restaurant. On the way, we completed what would be our final act of cleanup, carrying two tanks each to their storage chamber and truly solidifying that the trip was over.
As we people began to arrive at the 3rd and final barbecue, the difference in mood became clear. At the first barbecue, there was a DJ, a dance floor, and lively energy. At the second, there was more close connection between friends who had been introduced at the first. The third, however, was a much more somber affair. There was still fun energy, but it had been mellowed considerably by the knowledge that in 24 hours, we would all be back home.
I write this now, sitting on the roof of the power tower, thinking back on my trip. Im watching the stars, adding to the tally of the 57 shooting stars I have seen on this trip. I’m listening to Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran and admittedly getting emotional. I’m looking out on a fleet of 15 boats filled with close to 150 kids, each a happier, stronger, smarter, wiser, kinder, more mature, and simply better person than 16 days ago. Each of them, like me, is surrounded by what has become 12 lifelong friends, a group connected intimately in a way possible only through an experience like AQ. Only possible because you, our parents, sent us.
Tomorrow night, All of us will be home. We will be back with our family and friends, sleeping in our own beds, and we will again be thinking back on this trip. That’s when all of you, our parents, and all of us will truly understand how much this program has changed us. We don’t notice it here, but when thrust back into the mold we are used to occupying, we realize that we are different. We are different in a way that we can only be happy about. That’s what each of us is. Happy, thankful, and grateful that we had the privilege of this experience.
Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. I Love you
Thank you from everyone on this trip, to everyone who made it possible for them to come on this trip, and to everyone who facilitated the last 16 days.
Goodbye for the final time on this blog
We will see you tomorrow
-🙂Owen B.