Capt. Lou an IYT Instructor and Holly Conrad, a student and crew member have asked each crew member to put together 3 or 4 sentences, bullet points or ideas that REFLECT their experiences, impressions, or interpretations generated by this voyage aboard S/Y ARGO. We have also asked for age, city, state, legs experienced and any new plans. In their own words, here they are:
Andrew, 23, Valdosta, Ga. Antigua to Athens
“In my time on Argo and taking IYT Courses, I’ve honed many of the skills I have and learned several new ones.”
Alex, 20, Williamsport, PA, Antigua to Athens
“At the end of this trip, I will have crossed from Antigua to the Azores, to Greece. Along with satisfaction and gratitude comes a great deal of knowledge, I have learned about sailing, navigating, living with and cooking for 28 people on a boat. For me the diversity of the crew and staff made the trip such a great experience. Everyone had something to bring to the table, as well as something to teach. I can now cross- (crossing the Atlantic) off my bucket list!! Thanks everyone.”
Rory, 21 because birthday was 3 June, Kelowna, BC, Canada , Antigua to Athens
“I really enjoyed this voyage on Argo. This was a great way to get experience sailing and maintaining a vessel of this size on an ocean crossing. Everyone on board was great and made my time on Argo that much more fun. I would definitely recommend a voyage on Argo to anyone who wants to see what it is like to crew on a sailboat of this size-100 + feet- or who wants a little more adventure in their life.”
Rick, 64, Erie, PA, Leg 2 & 3, Horta to Athens.
"A good sturdy well rigged boat, a careful and caring Captain, a competent crew, an excellent instructor, and a varied fellow passenger list. Beautiful weather in a beautiful part of the world –North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea—everything in order. But a home office schedule turns the perfect sail into a motoring delivery trip detracting from the entire experience, so my overall grade ia a B-.”
Kevin, 71, Alpine, TX, Antigua to Athens
“Helming-one with the heavens- through a sea of stars horizon to horizon on moonless nights, fixed on one through the spreaders for guidance. Bow Watch-standing bow watch with bioluminescence of dolphins frolicking in the wake and “blinkies” exploding in the sea like shooting stars familiar to all. Swimming- at latitude 24-16 N; Longitude 57 09 W in 18000’ of depth, in the doldrums, glass flat sea, boat adrift, with sails waiting to fill in all her glory. The middle of nowhere, out of reach of rescue, dependent on our own microcosm of Argo’s 28 crew. Sightings-Whale, dolphins by the hundreds, flying fish, swordfish, squid, lots of plastic, thanks to humankind, and ghost ships looming in the haze. And 3 on-6 off- All this during the 24/7 TransAtlantic Crossing, standing watches with my fellow crew members, the average age 26 except for one each 64, 65, and me 71 !
Annie, 36, Montreal, QC, Canada. Leg 3 Gibraltar to Athens.
“To be able to experience what you are currently learning is an amazing chance allowing you to make sure you understand the theory and plus having an incredible instructor on board gives you the chance to ask questions you normally don’t find in a book. Next step: STCW 95 and Offshore Practical and eventually go for my OOW Certification.”
More Reflections to come.
Holly aboard S/Y ARGO in the Ionian Sea.
via BGAN, Satellite System courtesy of Global Satellite, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Friday, June 4, 2010
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