We were on day five of what was supposed to be a three-day passage from Isla Soana, Dominican Republic to Basseterre Bay, Saint Kitts. Our passage was extended due to running low on fuel, so we sailed the remainder of the way to our destination.The wind was coming from the exact direction our heading was in, which is unfortunate because we can’t catch wind that way. We were forced to sail far off course in order to tack, or “zig zag” our way to Saint Kitts. All four sails were raised. First the main, then the mizzen, followed by the staysail and the Genoa. Suddenly, I wasn’t so sad about potentially running out of fuel.

Life on board is far from easy. Our eleven students and six adults faced challenges like fighting seasickness, being hungry, tired, and majorly over the monotony of “existing” on the boat during passage. The routine of three hours on watch followed by six hours off felt endless, turning what was just 48 hours into what seemed like a month. A few students were able to show some serious perseverance to keep things running smoothly, to say we are proud of them is an understatement.

One memorable night, woke my four students for our typical 11:45pm night shift. Three of them begrudgingly rolled out of their bunks, put on their PFD’s, and made their way to the helm. Contentions were high as I arrived to the helm to relieve Pluto and his crew.

Justin steered first, allowing me to attend to hourly logs and routine checks, while La’Mya and Asher awaited their turns in a zombie-like vigil. They each took the helm under the ghostly moonlight, which cast an eerie glow over the sea, intensifying our isolation in the vast open water.The moon, full and radiant, casts its generous glow across the vast ocean, creating an almost eerie daylight that accentuates our solitude, hundreds of miles from land.

The boat rocked rhythmically with the eight-foot seas in response to the relentless waves. Above, the stars, though dimmed by the moon’s brilliance, remain steadfast, aligning with our course and guiding us forward like ancient navigators. Behind us, the stern cuts through the water, leaving a luminous trail of bioluminescent sparks in its wake, casting a magical glow that flickers and dances with the waves.It's hard to put this spectacle into words. It's truly a solace that raises the most existential questions. What a joy to share these spaces with the developing minds around me!

Our arrival in Saint Kitts coincided with the morning of my 29th birthday—a moment I could never have imagined. As we neared the island, the sight of a 4,000ft mountain emerged from the horizon, its shadowy outlines gradually giving way to vibrant rainforests and open pastures. The port of Basseterre materialized with its quaint, colorful buildings, welcoming us to a new land.

My whole day became a “pinch me” moment. What a birthday gift to explore a new country with my boys and the crew on Whatever It Takes.

We were on day five of what was supposed to be a three-day passage from Isla Soana, Dominican Republic to Basseterre Bay, Saint Kitts. Our passage was extended due to running low on fuel, so we sailed the remainder of the way to our destination.The wind was coming from the exact direction our heading was in, which is unfortunate because we can’t catch wind that way. We were forced to sail far off course in order to tack, or “zig zag” our way to Saint Kitts. All four sails were raised. First the main, then the mizzen, followed by the staysail and the Genoa. Suddenly, I wasn’t so sad about potentially running out of fuel.

Life on board is far from easy. Our eleven students and six adults faced challenges like fighting seasickness, being hungry, tired, and majorly over the monotony of “existing” on the boat during passage. The routine of three hours on watch followed by six hours off felt endless, turning what was just 48 hours into what seemed like a month. A few students were able to show some serious perseverance to keep things running smoothly, to say we are proud of them is an understatement.

One memorable night, woke my four students for our typical 11:45pm night shift. Three of them begrudgingly rolled out of their bunks, put on their PFD’s, and made their way to the helm. Contentions were high as I arrived to the helm to relieve Pluto and his crew.

Justin steered first, allowing me to attend to hourly logs and routine checks, while La’Mya and Asher awaited their turns in a zombie-like vigil. They each took the helm under the ghostly moonlight, which cast an eerie glow over the sea, intensifying our isolation in the vast open water.The moon, full and radiant, casts its generous glow across the vast ocean, creating an almost eerie daylight that accentuates our solitude, hundreds of miles from land.

The boat rocked rhythmically with the eight-foot seas in response to the relentless waves. Above, the stars, though dimmed by the moon’s brilliance, remain steadfast, aligning with our course and guiding us forward like ancient navigators. Behind us, the stern cuts through the water, leaving a luminous trail of bioluminescent sparks in its wake, casting a magical glow that flickers and dances with the waves.It's hard to put this spectacle into words. It's truly a solace that raises the most existential questions. What a joy to share these spaces with the developing minds around me!

Our arrival in Saint Kitts coincided with the morning of my 29th birthday—a moment I could never have imagined. As we neared the island, the sight of a 4,000ft mountain emerged from the horizon, its shadowy outlines gradually giving way to vibrant rainforests and open pastures. The port of Basseterre materialized with its quaint, colorful buildings, welcoming us to a new land.

My whole day became a “pinch me” moment. What a birthday gift to explore a new country with my boys and the crew on Whatever It Takes.