Sailing and Life
KWC ’s 2010 Winter Term (Jan. 4-22) included a class called Leadership Through Sailing. Veteran sailor and criminal justice professor Ken Ayers took three students (Ian Clark, Tyler Curran, Dustin Staves) to the Virgin Islands for the trip of a lifetime. We’ll be posting some of the students’ observations over the next few days. Click here for a compilation of their updates and photos.
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Intro:
– More than a lesson in sailing, this course was a lesson in life. It was a once in a lifetime chance to leave the comfort of your home and go to a place like no other and live a life most have only dreamed of. To experience a new culture, a new way of life, and an enlightenment that only these islands and sea can provide. Following in the wake of these old pirate trails, our sailing catamaran was our sea chariot to swashbuckling adventure. – Ian
On Learning to Sail:
– Having absolutely zero experience sailing a vessel of any kind, this was a very humbling experience. I soon realized that sailing is no joke and timing is critical; if something is done improperly or too slow, the result could be disastrous.
When I first set foot on the Caribbean Soul, I knew very little to none of the sailing terminology or the anatomy of the boat. I also had zero knowledge of tying knots. This was my first experience on a sailboat and I was going to have to listen carefully and learn quickly. Like a kid on his first day of school, I was wide-eyed and trying to absorb every bit of information that my brain could handle.
Right off I was taught how to moor the boat and tie a cleat hitch. Knowing how important this responsibility was, I went over the process in my head repeatedly throughout the day and that night … As time progressed on the boat, I slowly transformed from a completely worthless landlubber who knew nothing about sailing to a novice sailor who could somewhat handle themselves on a sailboat. – Tyler
– The sea is one of the most powerful forces on earth and we were paired toe to toe with it as we learned the basics, and later advanced techniques of harnessing wind in the art form known as sailing. Nothing comes easy in sailing as our group quickly found out while taking to the sea. Some situations take the patience of a school teacher, while others require the tenacity of the warrior. When done properly, the reward was smooth sailing backed by the clearest water in the world and the most beautiful scenery known to man. – Ian
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