Follow Our Journey! Alpha & Tango – Days 1 & 2
Written by Vada H., Social Media Coordinator
The first group of students arrived at Hodges Creek Marina, marking the exciting start of the second Alpha Fleet summer program! The eager staff greeted the students at the airport and then at our home base: Hodges Creek Marina. After the warm welcomes, boat assignments were revealed, and the students met their captains, mates, and the rest of their crew. The impressive fleet for this program includes Samoa, Topaz II, Betty’s Dream, Maora, and Jackalope.
One of our staff members, Watt, hosted a fantastic barbeque, serving up burgers, Caesar salad, and fruit salad to each boat group at the marina. The students participated in team bonding activities, getting to know others from different boats and forming new friendships. At the end of the day, everyone went to bed early to rest up for the adventures ahead!
The next morning, the students woke up on their boats at Hodges Creek Marina, eager to embark on their journey. The day began with an introduction to ASA Sailing qualifications and a session with Sail Caribbean Divers. Following that, each boat met with our founder, Mike, who gave his famous welcome talk and introduced the students to all the staff members on their fleet.
The students and staff then returned to their respective boats to learn essential pre-departure checks and how to de-dock. Once everyone donned their life jackets and completed their pre-departure checks, it was time to set sail for the first time. During the sail, students learned winch safety, how to raise and lower the mainsail and jib, and how to prepare lunch.
Our next destination was White Bay, where students practiced dropping anchor, communicating with the skipper, and honing their problem-solving and teamwork skills.
After securing all boats at White Bay, the staff conducted a jellyfish check in the water. With the waters clear, students and staff took their first swim! The campers prepared delicious burrito bowls for dinner, cleaned the boats, and then gathered for a boat meeting. Topaz ribbed around the corner to watch the sunset! After a long and eventful day, everyone went to bed, looking forward to the next day’s activities: Colgates, diving, and water sports!
