Location: Savanna Bay, Virgin Gorda
This blog is brought to you by Redden and Big Rach/Ach/Ranch/Branch (staff member Rachel)
What’s up y’all. Spoiler alert: you are reading the blog of the winners of the 2024 Third Session Action Quest Boat Olympics!!! However, backtracking to this morning, we gave our athletes a much-deserved sleep-in till 7:30. We were lucky and had pancakes and fruit salad. Then we donned our PFDs and got ready to set sail for some sail training (editor’s note: we raised sail on anchor, and it was lit!). As skipper of the day, I assigned roles to everyone on board with the oversight of our Supreme Skipper Stich. We had Brooklyn, Chloe C, Riley, and Chloe T sweating the halyard (that means putting up the main sail for the muggles out there), myself on the helm, Brayden tailing, Jasmine watching the batons, and Cammie easing the sheet. We cranked the winches like Soulja Boy. Interruption: Brayden just alerted us that he has deduced that flushing our luxurious freshwater toilets (thrones) three times uses exactly 3.5% of a water tank aboard Highlander. Speaking of Highlander, she ripped 7.5 knots in about 15 knots of wind while towing her precious angels, Haulin’ and Khan (AKA our small boats, the dinghies). Riley, Henry, and I took turns helming Highlander through the Drake Channel and practiced tacking and gybing. After a while of magnificent sailing, Grandpa Ayden yeeted a fender into the wrath of the sea, and Supreme Skipper Stich began screaming, “MAN OVERBOARD.”
Henry and Blake swiftly locked their eyes on the victim and never failed to look away despite the chaos that was occurring behind them as everyone else jumped into action to drop the sails. Supreme Overlord Mackenzie jumped like Tarzan into the dinghy with Henry, Jasmine, and Cammie. We successfully rescued the fender and then made our way to Savanna Bay for lunch and swim time. We then took an abundant amount of time to get ready (physically, mentally, competitively) for BA-BA-BA-BOAT OLYMPICSSSS. Matching with pigtails and pink zinc, we power walked (strutted) on the roof to our national anthem, Bad Blood, by our lord and savior (Stich and Mackenzie’s savior), Taylor Swift. We were then locked in and uready for the competition that awaited us and jumped into the dinghy to head to the beach (the arena). We strutted onto shore with all eyes on us and began our battle cry, “When I say weenies, you say creamies!”
The first task of our Triwizard tournament was TUG OF WAR. The Big Ranch approached the group with a glimmer of a prophetic win in her eyes and explained to us the strategy that would ultimately lead us to the promised land of victory. The Tiny but Mighty youngins of Highlander were mistakingly underestimated as we stared down our final competitors (the elders of the fleet) for the win. Plot twist: it was hardly a fight as we 2-6ed the rope to the victory line. Next up was Turtle Empathy: we simulated a newly hatched turtle’s journey to the open waters by crawling through our team’s legs to emerge to a disorienting beach and swimming through a minefield of sharks (staff members) ready to attack on our quest for food (a singular craisin). After a long and hard journey, team Tiny but Mighty locked in second place. Our final challenge was a noble battle on a paddle board of wits and strength (and a pool noodle). Riley and I dominated our opponents with our strategic strikes and impeccable balance… you might as well call us Simone Biles. Therefore, we absolutely demolished the podium and were crowned the winners before we headed back to our sanctuary (Highlander) for showers and dinner on the roof. Rachel here: Redden’s favorite time of the day is definitely squeeze because he loves holding his shipmates’ hands. Celebrating our triumphant victory, we watched the majestic sunset while blasting “We Are the Champions.” To end the day, we cleaned our precious Queen Highlander and engaged in a meaningful conversation about perspective led by the staff. Thanks for tuning into the best blog of the session!