Saturday June 17 – Sailing

We had a hardy breakfast and with snorkel gear in hand we boarded our transport boat to the 32-foot sailing ship The Calypso.

Captain Tim was in charge of the Calypso and our crew. He informed us that the starter for the engine had gone bad so we could only go by wind and sail. Being low tide, we agreed to allow the Dusky powerboat to tow us from our mooring and into the sailing channel.

The crews’ first lesson was how to raise the anchors. Kurtice and Doug freed and raised the anchors like old salts and we were under tow.

While we were under tow, Captain Tim gave the crew lessons on sailing ship terms and gear. He then taught the crew how to raise and secure the main sail and how to raise and secure the jib sail.

The Calypso was ready to sail as soon as we were in the channel and had open water to work with. Captain Tim then gave the crew lessons on navigation by chart, by compass and by sighting landmarks. Captain Tim then turned the Calypso over to the crew and on the first watch, Kevin manned the helm, Doug navigated and Kurtice and Forrest tended to the sail and the jib. Using a chart of the area, the crew agreed to make sail for the light house at American Shoal. On our way to American Shoal all youth crew members took a turn at the helm and as navigators. We sailed a steady course all morning.



Steady but light winds made for smooth sailing and navigation. It did not take long for the crew to break out into song. The spotting of a large Sea Turtle interrupted singing. Singing resumed once the turtle had passed but was interrupted again when dolphins were spotted in the distance.

Soon we were ready to drop anchor off the light house at American Shoal. We had lunch and got into our snorkel gear. The crew snorkeled around and under the light house for almost and hour. Various sea life and coral formations were seen. Among the sea life the crew saw were several types of Parrot Fish, Yellow Tail Snapper, several types of Angle Fish, Tri Fins, Yellow Sting Ray, a Nurse Shark and many other sea creatures and corals.



We returned to the Calypso and prepared to sail back to her mooring spot. Kurtice and Doug handled anchors once more and Kevin and Forrest prepared the sails. The wind had lessened and was not blowing in the most favorable direction for our return trip. The crew tried different sailing duties at first but then settled in on Doug at the helm, Kevin navigating and Kurtice and Forrest working on their tans.



Mr. Schlak started to sing and soon the crew joined in. It did not take long until a pod of 8 to 10 dolphins joined our crew and swam with the Calypso breaking the water at her bow. The excitement of the watching dolphins ended the singing. The dolphins and the Calypso parted ways and the crew returned to the task of getting the ship back on course. Captain Tim sat back and gave the crew navigational and sailing tips but he never told them what to do. He would offer suggestions to check on certain things when we would drift a bit off course. The only time Captain Tim took over the boat from the crew was when his SEASONED straw hat blew off and floated in the ocean. His quick work with the wheel and the sails had the hat back on board in no time at all.



Mr. Schlak started another song and before the second verse, the dolphins had joined us again. Everyone agreed that Mr. Schlak’s singing was the key to the dolphins swimming with the Calypso.

Using suggestions about land marks, day markers, compass bearings, orienting and reading a chart, Doug identified visual landmarks that allowed him to keep us on a steady course for home. Kurtice, Forrest and Kevin were back up navigators but Doug had the helm and was always on course.



The crew was having such a great time sailing that they requested Captain Tim radio the Brinton Center and request a late arrival so the crew could try to sail through the Buckeye Pass. Fortunately, the Brinton Center constantly monitors the weather and they declined our request for a late arrival.

We continued to sail for home until the wind completely abandoned us. Captain Tim radioed the Brinton Center and a Dusky was sent out to tow us back in the channel.

Once we were under tow again, Captain Tim instructed the crew on how to lower, stow and secure the mail sail and the jib sail. The Calypso was ready to drop anchor as soon as we had returned to the mooring sight. As the crew left the Calypso and boarded the Dusky, the rain started to pour down. A few lightening strikes were seen in the distance but none were close to us. The rain poured down for our five minute ride back to base.



During the entire day of sailing, the youth crew ran the boat. Captain Tim, Island Mate Zach and the adult crew leaders let the main sail in or out a couple of times, adjusted the jib once or twice and took the helm only to retrieve the Captain’s hat and to avoid an encounter with green Channel Marker 17…

Back at base, Zach passed out our dry bags.