Bruce’s class took a week-long trip aboard this 61′ yawl, making stops in the San Juans at Stuart Island, Jones Island, Sucia, and Cypress Island. They were divided into two watch groups: during the day, they took turns performing science experiments or learning how to sail the boat as a team, and at night, the teams alternated sleeping on the boat with sleeping on land.
Their science experiments, which they formulated as a class before leaving, checked the amount of plankton and visibility in varying amounts of current; they had to lower equipment off the side of the boat, and take readings in different current strengths, record all the data, and assemble it into a class report.
On the 4th day, they had to complete sailing tasks on their own, such as tacking at least twice, and heaving to in Bellingham Channel. On the 5th day, just before finishing up, they had to raise all 4 sails in complete silence. Bruce is now ready for a family sailing trip!