Early Alpha, Charlie, Foxtrot and Sierra, Day 11: A Day at Leverick Bay
Written and edited by Meredith Evridge
The morning of day eleven was upon us. Anegada was truly one of the most beautiful places many of us had waken up to. With the aquamarine water and lush flora and fauna, it was paradise. As fond memories of frolicking at the beach the day before played in our heads, preparing breakfast was even more fun. Captains and mates checked in with their crew around the breakfast table, maintaining the neighborly reminder about staying hydrated. The bagels were finished and the last of the milk was drank from the cereal bowls. Our Sierra and Foxtrot programs gathered on two boats to have an exciting morning of turtle tagging in Oilnut Bay, while all other campers got ready to pick up the mooring ball and head to our next destination: Leverick Bay!
The morning’s sail was another smooth and tranquil journey. Our campers know the drill by this point in the program and often have their favorite spot to hang out during longer sails. Those that know interesting bracelet patterns like to spend their downtime creating friendship bracelets, while others work on their diving workbooks or other educational materials. There is always a small crowd at the helm, keeping the skipper of the day company. It is not a lonely position to have, as someone usually has a small speaker with their favorite tunes pouring out. The waves rock gently and the fruit in the fruit hammock is swung back and forth wildly. Somehow, it manages to not fall out!
As Leverick Bay came into view, the crackle of the radio announced the fleet captain’s docking instructions. He advised the fleet to be aware of strong winds as they approached the dock. The crew on each boat assembled and went into action. Since the wind was blowing towards the dock, some of the boats had to come up beside the dock and let the wind push them onto the dock. They had to “bail” (re-approach or retry) a few times, which is never a negative thing. As any seasoned sailor knows, there are so many factors to each sailing maneuver – including docking – that if it seems like it will result in an unpleasant or dangerous way, it is wise to wait until we get the exact result we want. After a few attempts, and a lot of communication, each boat was happily docked in Leverick. Each boat had their choice of what to cook. Some had pizza bagels while others had mac and cheese with steamed broccoli.
Sierra and Foxtrot came back with exciting news: there are usually eight to ten turtles that call Oilnut Bay their home, and they had successfully tagged three of them! There was a spring in their step as they returned to their home boats and joined the lunch crew. At two o’clock, all parties walked up the docks to explore the shops and beach. There were loads of places to sit and enjoy the gorgeous view of the marina while munching on a treat from the local grocery store. Some shops were air conditioned which was a welcome change. Students enjoyed this time on shore with their newfound buds. Each member of the fleet was also rejoicing about land showers! The small things bring the most excitement! After cleansing the day away, dinner was prepped and gobbled, and all enjoyed another quiet night on board.
