Early Foxtrot & Early Sierra 2018 Adventures Day 8 – Diamond Cay to Marina Cay via Sandy Cay

written by mate, Lindsay Walsh
June 15, 2018

It. Is. Challenge Day! Challenge Day is when our students completely take over their boats for the full program day, start to finish. Although staff are silently and passively supervising, it is the responsibility of the student crews to manage the whole day’s itinerary. Students take charge of navigation to the day’s new destination(s) by plotting their course ahead of time, directing their crew as a whole, getting sails up and set, followed by ultimately picking up a mooring ball and securing the vessel for the evening.

Throughout the day, the staff on board sat back and observed their crews proudly as they put their knowledge to the test. Beginning with a drop of the mooring ball at Diamond Cay on Jost Van Dyke, the student skipper of the day motored the short voyage to Sandy Cay in the a.m. Sandy Cay is a small island right off of Jost Van Dyke. Unfortunately, Salome was out of luck when they arrived at Sandy to find no available mooring balls so they had the challenge of anchoring! Our students then enjoyed the gorgeously pristine island, hiking around the entire petite mass! After some swimming and active beach games, it was time to head back to the boats and begin the voyage to Marina Cay!

Both yachts sailed along the backside of Tortola then cut into the channel between Tortola and Guana Island. During the sail, students showed off their knowledge of points of sail and sail trim, maximizing their efficiency. Each boat reached our destination safely, completing their Challenge Day with flying colors!

We finished the day relaxing and have a delicious dinner of jerk chicken with plantains. We are so proud of our students for such a successful day on the water. Staff had complete confidence in their crews and still were astounded by the students exceeding their expectations.