Bravo 1 & Charlie 1 2015 – Day 3

written by Photography mate, Erin Wildermuth

By 7:30 this morning, the Sail Caribbean crew were having breakfast under the early morning sun and shade provided by their boat biminis and sails. Engine checks are an important part of our morning. Ford on Fermi did an excellent job of not only checking the engines, but also teaching a fellow crew member how to perform the task.

An hour later students were rotating through a variety of water sports. Our twelve American Sailing Association students were learning all about keelboats on Opal Bella, our small training boat, in preparation for their ASA 101 exam. Their instructor Keith, who once rated twelfth in US dingy racing, reports that every one of them was gushing with enthusiasm and promise. Other rotation activities included water skiing, beach sports and turtle watching through the sea grass in snorkel gear. Nic and Charlie volunteered to transport the kayaks from our boats all the way to shore. Murrie and Annie even found a hermit crab! The shady couches at Cooper Island’s local coffee shop and towels spread across sandy beaches provided relaxing resting stops – and gelato – between activities.

Lunch was nutritious and delicious. Ryan and Don did a particularly good job with our recipe for garlic potatoes and honey mustard chicken. After lunch, the Charlie participants headed out to begin their advanced open water courses. The majority of students completed their first deep dive, which brings divers down to thirty meters for the first time (open water divers are only certified to eighteen meters) and their first wreck dive on the RMS Rhome.

While the advanced divers braved the deep underwater world, our new open water diver students entered the ocean for the first time to complete confined open water exercises. Our other Bravo students were transported to Cistern Rock for a snorkel where they were pleased to find several green turtles swimming about with them!

After all completed their afternoon activities by 5:30 p.m., everyone returned to their boats for boat showers and dinner. With such an action packed day, everyone spent time after dinner relaxing and eventually heading off to bed.

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