Programs Blog

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

1821.79° 2’ N x 06° 45’ W

Ship Heading: 130 per ships compass

Ship’s Speed: 0.0 kn

Log: 2881nm

Weather was a sun shiny 29°C with very calm F2 winds all sails are struck

Anchored in St. John surrounded by USVIs

For the first time in three years, a plan was set in place to sail from Massachusetts down to the US Virgin Islands at the tail end of hurricane season. Our cruise track was quickly altered due to the aftermath of a tropical storm leading us to Boston Harbor. I didn’t fully believe that we were going to make it. Would we have to turn around Bermuda and head back north? After seeking shelter for a few days, we rode the northerly winds southeast heading towards the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Now here we are just shy of thirty days later, anchored just outside of Saint John. Seeing land for the first time in a month is exiting, but today we got to walk on land for the first time! The feeling of jumping off of the dinghy and running up onto the beach was pure happiness. Ahhh, finally the ground stopped moving from side to side, there were real life people sitting on the beach, and I could feel soft sand in-between my toes. Everybody was screaming with joy and we all ran into the salty Caribbean water.

Soon after, we hiked up a scenic road leading to and old sugar plantation from that period of enslaved labor on St. John that we have studied in our Atlantic History class. It was just as imagined, steep hills that used to be covered in sugar plants, uncomfortably hot weather, and the remains of what used to be violence and death involved in producing this cash crop all for a profit. There we ate lunch and then headed back down to the beach to go snorkeling. We snorkeled for just about 3 hours in the crystal blue sea warming up for tomorrows snorkeling expedition in Jeff’s favorite coral reef.

Today was an amazing day, touching land for the first time and swimming, but there are rumors about a phone call with parents tonight.

Sam Scott, B Watch