Captain’s Log: A Big Leap in Abilities

The Basics

The boat: Sea Monkeys, a 2002 Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 

Crew: Captain JT (instructor)  

ASA Students: Brian, Amy, Deanna, Rory, Robert, Seok

Courses Completed:  ASA 101 (Basic KeelBoat), ASA 103 (Basic Coastal Cruising), ASA 104  (Bareboat Cruising), ASA 114 (Cruising Catamaran)

Day 1: Big Sailing Dreams

All three couples arrived at Compass Point Marina with big sailing dreams! After meeting Captain JT and getting a tour of the boat, they sat down at dinner to discuss them. Brian and Amy would like to purchase a catamaran— but first they need to know how to sail it! Robert and Seok are making future plans to sail overseas and will need their International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) first. That’s something they’ll receive through this course! Rory and Deanna also have sailing plans with their kids in the future and would like to learn the ropes before getting their kids involved. 

Day 2: A Windy Start

18-20 knot winds on the first full day of sailing meant the crew quickly learned about reefing! By the time they had made it from St. Thomas to St. John, the students had already put the first reef in the sails, covered all points of sail, and were ready to learn about tacking! Each student took a turn at the helm and a turn at the sheets, tacking around the north side of St. John. By the afternoon, it was time to drop the sails, motor into Maho Bay, and snorkel with the turtles! A perfect (and windy) start to their week at sea! 

Day 3: Striking the Perfect Balance

The crew woke up to calm and clear waters and couldn’t resist getting in another snorkel session with the turtles before setting sail! Then, it was time to raise the main and unfurl the jib as they made their way to Sandy Cay. After tacking their way to the Cay, the crew practiced heaving-to while they stopped for lunch. Next, they sailed downwind towards Caneel Bay, practicing their first jibes. The crew had already learned so much after just their second day at sea that they decided to celebrate by taking the dinghy into Cruz Bay for dinner. This crew had struck the perfect balance between sailing and free time, ending the night enjoying cocktails on the flybridge.

Day 4: Learning to Anchor

This crew had already learned so much so quickly! On their third full day at sea, Captain JT decided to put a focus on charting and anchoring. The students were all grateful for their morning charting lesson, as they had quite a few questions from the ASA exam. However, by the end of their lesson with JT, they all felt like pros. The crew then made their way back to St. Thomas, jibing all the way into Magens Bay— 6 jibes total! Then, it was time to practice anchoring. After a few practice rounds, they found a nice, sandy patch to stay the nigh in about 8 feet of water. 

Day 5: A Big Leap in Abilities

The crew set sail just as the cruise ships guests were filling up the beaches of Magens Bay— a great time to leave! They began the morning by practicing man overboard (MOB) drills and each student successfully recovered the MOB on their first try! However, that wasn’t even the biggest accomplishment of the day. The big accomplishment was sailing the entire way from Magens Bay to Caneel Bay! Captain JT noted in his Captain’s Log that it’s not easy to make it the entire way under sail and commended the crew for taking “a big leap in their abilities.” Great work, team!

Day 6: Knot Ready to Say Goodbye 

The crew couldn’t believe their last full day of sailing had already arrived! They sat around the cockpit eating breakfast, sharing stories— and practicing all their knots. The crew had already completed all their required tasks for the week and passed all their ASA exams and decided they would like to spend the rest of their time practicing mooring. They headed to Hawksnest Bay, each student practicing different positions on the boat while mooring and within a few hours, they all felt fully comfortable with the task. They then made their way to Christmas Cove to celebrate the end of the sailing week at the floating pizza boat, Pizza Pi. Congratulations to this competent and now, fully certified, crew!