By Captain Chrissy McLean
Four days away, 13 people, all of our gear and provisions, and a 25-foot engineless open boat? That’s a recipe for some serious experiential learning! Team Longboat recently completed their annual overnight journey on the waters of Hood Canal. The trip is the culmination of a weekly school-year class in partnership with Port Townsend School District’s OCEAN program.
Each week, students work on the building blocks they need to complete a successful overnight trip. They practice the technical skills of tying knots, raising sail, rowing, anchoring, navigation, menu planning, packing, and gear management. Perhaps more importantly, they also build their competence in the durable skills of communication, teamwork, kindness, initiative, perseverance, and joy.
When we head out on journey, all these skills come together. We work together to make sure the boat is moving well under sail or oar. We share knowledge and stand by as everyone takes a turn at the helm and the voice of leadership, raising and sheeting sails, rowing and singing shanties, taking soundings as we anchor, and tying knots for real applications. We recognize the needs of our selves and our crew and make sure everyone is fed, hydrated (mostly), and dressed for the elements. This year, the weather showed many of her colors with a launch day of nearly 80 degrees and landing day that was drizzly and had us pulling out our layers.
We traveled during the full moon, giving us big spring low tides during the day. This meant some challenging anchoring conditions as we worked to keep the boat afloat during minus low tides. It also meant warm Hood Canal waters for our afternoon water comfort assessment and a bonus of sun-warmed rocks to lay on afterwards for a well-earned reward. Eagles soared above us, calling to each other. Seals popped their shiny heads up to take a peek. Sea stars clung to each other on the rocks of this low tide paradise.
The wind was at our backs for most of the trip, giving us lovely sailing conditions for 3 out of the 4 legs of our trip. It did mean that we had some hard rowing into a head wind on the last morning. We pulled out all the stops on that rowing leg to meet the challenges of type 2 fun. Singing shanties, playing Song Wars, rotating rowers, and eating bagels and cream cheese underway all kept us going. Finally, we rounded the point and had a clear lay line to set sail in our old-timey vessel, making quick time under mizzen and fore (and arriving only an hour late to our rendezvous!)
It seemed like we had been gone from our port for just moments and also a whole lifetime. We have so many recollections of sailing, watching wildlife, putting on already wet shoes, sleeping on the boat or under the stars, cooking our own meals, and being in a beautiful place. We came home feeling happy, satisfied, closer to our crew of friends, and oh-so tired; proud of all the skills we brought together to make our journey a success.
The spirit of fun adventure has taken root in these young mariners with memories that will last a lifetime.
