Windjammer Journal

Day Two:
Monday, June 29 1998
Sint Maarten & en route to Nevis

Our first full day, according to Kristine's Activity Board:

MONDAY June 29 RED
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
0630 Sticky Buns & Bloody Marys
0730 Breakfast
0845 Captain's Storytime - Top Deck
0915 ish Island Tour - Depart
0930 12m Regatta - meet Top Deck
1230 LAST LAUNCH
1230 Lunch - Potato Bar - Mmm
SEACHEST The Ship's Shop is Open!!!
in the Saloon! --Check out Zelda's Chest!
1330 ish We Raise Sails for Nevis
1400 Snorkel Gear Rental for the week --> $25
1700 Snacks & Swizzles
1730 Scuba Diving Meeting! All interested please attend
1845 & 2015 ish Dinner
After Dinner - Activity - T.B.A.


It was interesting how quickly I adapted to my new routine, retiring early and waking early. Another routine which quickly developed was joining my cousin Jim and Uncle John on the top deck before breakfast (left-click for a RealAudio sound effect).
Breakfast was scrambled eggs and sausage patties. I naifly tried some Matouk's hot sauce: it was quite tasty, but would cause great discomfort in a few hours. I learned that the last of our luggage had been delivered from Miami, arriving on board late last night. Following the meal, we assembled on top deck for Captain's Storytime, where our captain, Paul March, introduced himself, his officers, and the crew.

SunriseFirst morningCapt Paul March explains what floatsThe Chief Engineer shows off his crew

(RealAudio Excerpts - use top links to hear live, use bottom links to download files to your hard drive.)
Downstream: Hear the Captain introduce the crewHear the Chief Engineer
Download: paulmarch.ra - 270 KBtonycole.ra - 288 KB


Activitives Director Kristine concluded the talk by explaining what we should expect for today. Everyone recommended the 12M Regatta, which involved racing two America's Cup yachts. I declined however since I doubted I'd get much use of my camcorder there. Besides, activities sounded too much like work.
So while the rest of my party left, I stayed on deck, enjoying the sun and my bottle of Corsican spring water, watching the race from a distance, and walking about the ship.

12M RegattaShip's wheelFull stopPilothouse


Lunch was stuffed baked potatoes with all the fixings, along with tuna and pasta salads. It was announced that the Stars & Stripes lost to Canada II in the regatta. At one:fifteen the Captain staged an emergency drill and everyone had to go up to the top deck in their life preservers. Soon after the PA system played "Amazing Grace" and several hands helped the crew hoist sails, and we were off onto the open seas. To the sounds of "Ride of the Valkyrie" we opened fire on the Carnival Line ship Fascination, which had pulled into the bay this morning.

Raising sails'Damned fou-fou ships!'Full sailOff to Nevis


"Amazing Grace" gave way to Enya's "Caribbean Blue", over the loudspeakers, as we passengers began to gain our sea legs. I was not quite so adept. As soon as I rented my snorkel gear, I raced back to my cabin, clambered into the top bunk, gobbling down Tylenol and ginger pills.
I missed the afternoon's activities, missed seeing my second cousins pilot the ship. I gave some serious thought to missing dinner, too; but early in the evening I tentatively walked up to the quarter deck and around to the galley at the stern.
Kristine's board had been updated:

MONDAY June 29 RED
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
WHAT'S NEXT: ...
1700 Snacks & Swizzles
1730 Scuba Meeting - We'll get you diving!
SIGN UP TONIGHT for
TOURS in NEVIS!!!
Sign up sheets are in the Dining Room!
1845 & 2000 ish Dinner < Mahi Mahi
Lamb
After 2nd Seatting --> Activity -->
Team Guess it! -- ahhhh!


I managed to have a bit of dinner, and I spent the evening on the top deck watching us slide toward Nevis. I did not participate in the game actibities, simply because the galley was too uncomfortably stuffy. I stayed up top, where my party had already begun to commandeer the bow's benches for our own. It was quite late by now, but it was too hazy to see many stars - a haze which was to continue throughout the week.
Lights began to appear on the horizon and the crew began to lower sails. My cousin Tom and I stayed up a while later, chatting, before I finally went below decks to my cabin. I thankfully had little trouble sleeping, despite my afternoon nap and despite the fact we were offshore of our next island...

Sailing at nightFoam off the bowLowering sails as we reach NevisDropping the bow anchor


Check out these sites

http://www.st-maarten-st-martin.com
http://www.frenchcaribbean
http://www.caribbean-on-line

Onward to Day Three

Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five | Day Six | Day Seven

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