A captivating blog post from 2021-2022 student-Connor Teskey

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Connor climbing aloft on the Alex II tallship

A sailor lives an extraordinary life, flirting with danger, utilizing it to their advantage to travel to their desired location. A sailor chooses a home isolated from the rest of the world, living in a small community travelling across a wet and unforgiving desert we call the ocean. I’m sitting here as I write this in likely the most intense weather I’ve seen in my lifetime, and I’ve been sailing since the age of 2. I’m in my bunk as the ship rolls on port side. I just want to note that once you hit what feels like 45 degrees your walls become just as much your floor as the floor becomes your walls. In this type of sea state, it’s no question to assume that simple tasks such as eating a bowl of cereal, opening doors, or even walking down a hallway becomes trivial. I look out my porthole to see the raging ocean stir and spray in the whirling gusts of 50-60kts. My view occasionally gets dunked below the sea line and fills my room with the sapphire blue hue of the North Atlantic.

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A cabin aboard the Alex II tallship

The most beautiful is at night. when my porthole goes under, I’m unable to see much, but what I am able to see is swirling blueish green light of the bioluminescence in the water. They appear as pinpoints like stars swirling in the sky. The water itself isn’t glowing, it’s these microorganisms floating about that produce such wondrous lights. The night isn’t all fun as this is your time to sleep. This is made extremely difficult by the noises so common around this ship. You will never find anywhere on this ship that’s completely silent and my room is no exception. Some sounds I don’t mind and actually quite enjoy, such as the roar of the wind, or the splashing of waves against the hull. The noises that are less than optimal would be the everlasting croak that my bunk produces in the rolls. There’s also the engine room below us which creates a slight rumble, this isn’t too bad however. Our soundscape is also filled with alarms from our neighbouring engineers who wake up throughout the night to ensure the engine is running to perfection. Some nights onboard it’s impossible to sleep, it’s inevitable. Some nights you’re rolling back and forth 30+ degrees from port to starboard, feeling like you’re getting slammed into your wall, and then the next second nearly getting thrown from your bunk. It’s these nights that I put in my earbuds, choose my favourite music (most commonly an atmospheric Pink Floyd playlist) and just roll around bracing myself when needed while watching the swirling lights just outside the glass of my porthole. 

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Connor and fellow crewmate

This might sound like I’m complaining, but I’m really not. I actually do enjoy these sleepless nights. It’s not that often that you can say you had to grip for dear life to not get thrown from one end of your room to another while blasting Pink Floyd’s mental song bike on repeat while slowly going crazy from sleep deprivation. It may not be fun in the moment and you may have the lines “I’ve got a bike you can ride it if you like it’s got a basket, a bell, and things to make it look good” stuck in your head, but that’s what sailing is all about. It’s overcoming the challenges of daily life made more difficult by your increased isolation and environment literally moving the ground of which you walk on on a constant basis. When it’s all said and done, we get to return home to our stable ground and bring back these stories of triumph, and adventure. This is a lifestyle that constantly sends you outside your comfort zone. This lifestyle can be the source of trust in yourself to know your capable of overcoming occasionally dangerous situations. You will never truly know how you’ll act under pressure until you’ve experienced some pressure, and that is an insanely valuable experience to have.

The life of a sailor isn’t something easily conveyed to somebody who hasn’t experience the lifestyle for themselves. No matter how many stories are told, no matter how much you think you understand the life, you probably don’t know the full extent of it unless you’ve lived it yourself. It’s filled with beauty, agony, loneliness, wonder, and adventure. It’s a concoction that has somehow fueled my love for the ocean. The difficulties give you perspective of your own capabilities, and they give you challenge that feels amazing to overcome. You may be on deck on a calm day watching the flying fish pop out of the water avoiding predators, or you may be down below on a rough day preying on flying plates, catching them before they hit the ground with the all too familiar ear shattering clash of porcelain on the deck. Each day is different. Each day brings new challenges, some days more than others. It’s this freshness to each day that makes conveying the lifestyle so incredibly difficult to land lubbers. No story can perfectly capture the life a sailor lives, it can only capture moments chosen carefully to create a good narrative for the listener. These stories either leaving out most of the positives of your day focusing entirely on the negatives of your day, and the opposite. It’s this lack of ability to provide the full picture of the sailor’s experience that gives it mystical qualities, leaving the listener in needs for the missing puzzle pieces. You’ll never find the missing puzzle pieces of somebody else’s story; you can only create your own new puzzle of which only you can hold every single piece. This is what drives me to sea. The knowledge that my story is my own land that nobody can take away the challenges you’ve overcome is liberating. In this micro environment everything you do matters, and even the smallest shortcomings in your effort can be quickly seen through its effects on your small community. Your effects on your community no longer feel invisible as they so commonly do when on land. On a ship you become an important contributor to your community and that’s a great thing. The life of a sailor is many things. It’s the good the bad and the ugly, but when put together the good overcomes, and creates a beautiful way of life.

 

Join us on Monday, March 29th – Wednesday, March 31st for our fairs on Zoom.
At a post-secondary fair, you’ll be able to meet representatives from member institutions in our Zoom breakout rooms to learn more about the programs, scholarships, opportunities, and communities at Universities and Colleges all across Atlantic Canada as well as other complimentary educational programs and services available to students all across Atlantic Canada.
Join us on Monday, March 29th – Wednesday, March 31st for our fairs on Zoom.
At a post-secondary fair, you’ll be able to meet representatives from member institutions in our Zoom breakout rooms to learn more about the programs, scholarships, opportunities, and communities at Universities and Colleges all across Atlantic Canada as well as other complimentary educational programs and services available to students all across Atlantic Canada.
Join us on Monday, March 29th – Wednesday, March 31st for our fairs on Zoom.
At a post-secondary fair, you’ll be able to meet representatives from member institutions in our Zoom breakout rooms to learn more about the programs, scholarships, opportunities, and communities at Universities and Colleges all across Atlantic Canada as well as other complimentary educational programs and services available to students all across Atlantic Canada.
The Bluenose 100 Committee is excited to share its plans for a virtual celebration of the 100th anniversary of launching Bluenose. This celebration also serves as a kick off for a series of events throughout the year to highlight the achievements of the famed schooner and its importance in Nova Scotian and Canadian history.
The first event is scheduled to take place at 10:00 am ADT – the exact time Bluenose was launched. It will feature exciting new videos, stories, historical footage and interviews explaining the vessel’s place in Canadian history. A second event is planned for 7:00 pm ADT, and will see Bluenose’s story further explored through musicians, performers and writers.
More details about the Bluenose 100 celebrations are available at bluenose100.ca. This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Town of Lunenburg.

St Mildred’s-Lightbourn School (SMLS) has partnered with independent schools across Canada and the University of Toronto Schools to offer students the most meaningful experience as they navigate post-secondary education opportunities in Canada and around the world.

The Canadian Independent School Higher Education Week is a free (for students and families), virtual, weeklong event and it is scheduled to run from November 17 to 20 (6:30pm to 10:00pm EST). A variety of institutions and organizations will present to students and parents in a format that includes virtual keynote speakers, educational workshops and academic presentations. The week will be grouped as follows:

November 17: Higher Education in Canada
November 18: Higher Education in the United States
November 19: Higher Education in Europe
November 20: Further Global Opportunities in Higher Education – Class Afloat, 6:30-8:00pm

To participate, please speak with the Guidance Office at your school or click here to learn more:

Appleby College

Bayview Glen Independent School

Branksome Hall

Crescent School

Hillfield Strathallan College

Lower Canada College

Lycée Français Toronto

Ridley College

Shawnigan Lake School

The Bishop Strachan School

The Country Day School

The York School

Toronto French School

University of Toronto Schools

Welcome to Alberta OOP Virtual Fairs 2020! During this year’s virtual event, discover almost 50 of Canada’s finest post-secondary institutions from outside of Alberta, all from the comfort of your computer.

To join, head to albertaoop.com and click on the download information link beside each institution to receive electronic versions of prospective student brochures, as well as links to important videos, mailing lists, and more.

Class Afloat at OOP 2020

To participate in the OOP live virtual fairs simply click on Class Afloat’s video link at some point during the stated dates and times and a representative will be there to speak with you over video chat – it’s that easy! Class Afloat’s Director of Admissions will be available to speak with students, parents and educators from:

4pm to 7pm MT (6pm-9pm ET) every day from October 13th – 15th & October 19th – 22rd, 2020

Can’t make the event but still want to learn more about spending your semester or year at sea? Send us an email at info@classafloat.com and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have!

Ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime? Join us online for a casual information session and learn more about earning high school and 1st year university academic credits while sailing to 20+ ports around the world.

Our Director of Admissions will kick off the session with a short presentation about the program and will then open the floor for Q&A! Whether you’re just starting to think about spending a semester abroad or well into the process of planning a gap year you’ll never forget, this information session is right for you.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://bit.ly/3k3MEjz

Meeting ID: 773 6853 1484
Passcode: jvW5gy

Ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime? Join us online for a casual information session and learn more about earning high school and 1st year university academic credits while sailing to 20+ ports around the world.

Our Director of Admissions will kick off the session with a short presentation about the program and will then open the floor for Q&A! Whether you’re just starting to think about spending a semester abroad or well into the process of planning a gap year you’ll never forget, this information session is right for you.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://bit.ly/3k3MEjz

Meeting ID: 773 6853 1484
Passcode: jvW5gy

Get to know Class Afloat faculty and students throughout the ages in our Alumni in the Spotlight series.

What’s your name?

Sarah FennesseySarah Fennessey

Where are you from?

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

What year did you sail with Class Afloat?

2010 Winter Semester and 2010-2011 Full Year

Do you still keep in touch with your shipmates?

Yes! I just got married last fall and had a few floaties attend the wedding. A few of us also got together more recently to have dinner on February 17th, the ten year anniversary of our last day on the SV Concordia. We may not speak every day, or even every month, but when we do get together we pick up right where we left off.

Where are you now?

I just moved back to Calgary two months ago after living nearly a decade away in Montreal.

What have you been up to following your time at sea?

So much has happened in the last decade! I graduated from McGill with an undergraduate degree in Psychology, I got a French Bulldog and named her Pants, I founded a social enterprise called Vent Over Tea, I entered the workforce and became a Sales Manager, I got married and I bought a house. It’s been a huge decade!

What impact did Class Afloat have on your life and career?

Class Afloat shaped who I am as a person. It made me more empathetic, resilient, and open to new challenges. Class Afloat pushed me far outside my comfort zone, and led me to develop new skills at a pace I didn’t know I was capable of.

I think the most impactful moments for me were the toughest moments aboard the ship. The moments that forced me to take off my mask, break down, and be vulnerable with my peers. This is where my personal growth and development happened. Sure, the traveling and sailing was absolutely amazing, but the hard parts were what shaped me: the conflicts, the hard labour, the night watches in terrible weather, the seasickness, the really bad storms, the lack of sleep, the early morning galley duty, the lack of privacy, the homesickness etc. I learned that the most rewarding moments can come from enduring that discomfort.

This has had a dramatic impact on my life, as I gained the resilience to withstand the initial discomfort of a new challenge. It reduced my fear of jumping into the unknown, and I’ve had unique opportunities arise from that.

One great example would be how I created a social enterprise called Vent Over Tea: an active listening service that pairs people who need to talk with empathetic listeners in local cafes. This idea came to me when I was studying at McGill and struggling with some personal stressors that weren’t “serious enough” to require professional help. I was sitting in a psych class that was discussing the positive impacts of talking to an empathetic listener, and thought wouldn’t it be great if we could have on-demand great listeners willing to lend a free hour of their time to listen to you vent.

With that thought, I jumped right into the unknown of how to launch a volunteer based start-up. I had the courage to try and the resilience to withstand the ever present imposter syndrome. I took all those skills Class Afloat imparted on me and created something I’m so proud of. It also had a trickle down effect into other aspects of my life.

I got this project off the ground in Montreal, and entered a start-up competition with it. We came in first place, and on the night we went out to celebrate, I met the husband of a recruiter who worked at a local start-up. He introduced me to his wife, and she got me a phenomenal job that helped springboard my career to where I am now. It also happened to be at the company where I met my husband.

TLDR:  Class Afloat reduced my fear of jumping into the unknown, and I’ve had unique opportunities arise from that.

What is your favourite Class Afloat memory?

Seeing dolphins swim alongside our bow as they raced through bioluminescent plankton. The plankton made it appear as if they were glowing and leaving a trail of light in the water behind them.

Close second: sitting in the fowlie closet with a close friend eating Nutella by the spoonful.

If you could offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Every struggle and hardship you face will shape you into a stronger, more resilient version of yourself. Trust the process, you will come out of this better than before.

What was your biggest takeaway from your Class Afloat journey?

I discovered that the best friendships emerge from being vulnerable with one another. On the ship you can’t hide any part of yourself, your crew-mates will see the good, the bad, and the ugly. In sharing every side of yourself, you create these unbreakable bonds built on humility, honesty, and trust. I left Class Afloat with a willingness to open up to people, and connect on a deeper level.

Over the last four months Class Afloat has carefully monitored the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the international social policy response to control the pandemic.

Our efforts have focused on a comprehensive assessment of risk to formulate a safe plan for the operation of the 2020-2021 Class Afloat program. Advice of the WHO, Health Canada, International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other experiential youth programs has helped us to understand the evolution of the virus and track COVID-related regulations around the world to assess the impact and risk to our program.

Since the onset of the pandemic, we have been working to create alternative sailing itineraries that avoid higher risk ports, countries, and even whole continents. We developed alternative models for port programs to minimize the risk of virus contact in the communities we visit. We created COVID-19 health, hygiene and ship access protocols in order for our crew to form their own ‘shipboard bubble’.

Throughout this process we remained optimistic and determined to find solutions that would make safe sailing possible for our Class of 2020 departure in September. It became clear however, that while we can re-engineer our program and operations, there are factors over which we have no control that have led us to the necessary decision to suspend the Class Afloat 2020-2021 school year.

There are many unknowns at this time, including the probability of local outbreaks and a second wave of COVID-19. Both scenarios would force governments to re-introduce restrictions including the closing of borders, ports, and air travel, and the enforcement of lockdown and quarantine measures in a foreign port, a precaution that would end our student’s voyage and academic year.

Class Afloat is proud of its past success at taking on challenging experiential education programming and managing with a higher level of risk tolerance. We deeply regret that our evaluation process has come to this conclusion and we share the disappointment of our Class of 2020.

Over the next 15 months, we will plan for the launch of our September 2021 school year program and sailing itinerary.

David Jones
President

Get to know Class Afloat faculty and students throughout the ages in our Alumni in the Spotlight series.

What’s your name?

Celina Diaz

Celina Judith Diaz

Where are you from?

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

What year did you sail with Class Afloat?

I sailed with Class Afloat in 2012-13, the route was a figure eight of the North and South Atlantic on the Sørlandet of Norway.

Do you still keep in touch with your shipmates?

That’s a bit of a hard question to answer. We keep in touch, but I guess just based on geography – I see my classmates a lot less now than we did the couple of years after graduating. I’ve become closer to some after the school year than while on board, and some of by best friends are Class Afloat alumni from other years, funnily enough.

Where are you now?

Currently I am in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I have lived for the past five years.

What have you been up to following your time at sea?

What I discovered at sea that first year captivated my attention so much, that it literally has become my entire world since. Eager to keep on, in 2014 I worked as a trainee on the training ship DANMARK, and graduated with Ordinary Seaman papers.

I can’t say that there was a point where I consciously chose a career at sea, but one thing lead to another, one job to the next! I spent four years on my favourite ship Sørlandet, sailed three voyages as a quartermaster on the DANMARK and spent some time on a sailmaker’s bench in Denmark.

What impact did Class Afloat have on your life and career?

I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into when I sent an application to Class Afloat. Well, some idea I guess, but I didn’t know how it would change every decision that I’ve made in the following years.

Class Afloat made the biggest impact anything has in my life, mostly because I have made a career out of sailing tall ships and sail training. I consider myself very lucky to have been a Class Afloat student when I was, with the exceptional mix of crew and teachers that were there at the time. They inspired me to go after something very unconventional, without necessarily having the intent to do so.

What is your favourite Class Afloat memory?

It’s impossible to choose. I think one of my favourite memories was sewing bottlescrew boots. Without explaining too much, it’s just a piece of canvas that is stitched around the threads of a bottlescrew, which is used to tighten the standing rigging. In non-sailor words, sewing a piece of fabric around a fixed, cylinder-shaped object. There were hundreds to stitch, so what began as a one-man project slowly became a job that a lot of us students could do.

So over the course of a few weeks, we would get together in our free time, and stitch. It could have been on deck, in the rigging, or out on the bowsprit. It was nice to do something practical and detailed, while chatting a bit with a friend, looking at dolphins swimming alongside, or even just alone using the time to reflect on our surroundings while crossing another ocean.

If you could offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

If I could tell my younger self anything, I would probably say not to worry so much. I have spent a lot of time and energy being concerned about the outcome of decisions made, without necessarily having an influence on them in any way. Knowing now that most things work out, it would have been nice to have that insight sooner.

What was your biggest takeaway from your Class Afloat journey?

I can remember just after our graduation, my shipmate Blake said ‘this was the best year of our lives.’ I remember thinking how stupid that comment was. It was impossible that this was ‘it.’ I would surely go on living years that were consistently better than the lasts. But thinking back on it now, it was the perfect and possibly only time in our lives to experience something so big, so great.

There’s just something about the age group being just right. You are independent enough, yet still open, curious, trusting and without so many attachments and expectations about how things should be. So I guess Blake was right, I don’t know if it ever gets better than that, or if we ever will laugh as much as we did while taking so much pleasure in learning something new. It’s not to say that I am less happy now than I was then, but there is something so special about being that age and experiencing such a great adventure unlike anything else. So my biggest takeaway from Class Afloat is a year of irreplaceable and incomparable memories – luckily enough, shared with some of the greatest people I’ve ever met.

Follow our “Know Your Knot” series for how-to tutorials from the experts.

This Week’s Knot: The Bowline

Top tip from our Director of Operations: “There is little chance of this knot slipping before the breaking point of the actual rope itself has been reached. It is also easy to untie, even after being put under load. The bowline’s origins were on board the full-rigged sailing ships, and if you only learn one knot, the bowline is the one.

Can you tie a bowline? Take a photo of your completed bowline or a video of your knot-tying in action and share with us on social! Tag us @classafloat on Instagram or Facebook and use #knowyourknots to be featured.

Get to know Class Afloat faculty and students throughout the ages in our Alumni in the Spotlight series.

Amy Russell

What’s your name?

Amy Russell

Where are you from?

I grew up in Didsbury and Calgary, Alberta.

What year did you sail with Class Afloat? 

I attended Class Afloat for the 2010-2011 year as a university student. We circumnavigated the Atlantic Ocean, including sailing on the North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Caribbean Sea.

Do you still keep in touch with your shipmates?

I keep in touch with, and get to see, a few of my shipmates regularly, and others not as often as I’d like. But with Floaties, no matter how much time has passed, we always seem to pick up again easily.

Where are you now?

I am living in Nova Scotia (currently near Lunenburg).

What have you been up to following your time at sea?

After Class Afloat I went to Acadia University and completed my degree in biology, which I began on the ship, then my BASc in ecosystem management at Lethbridge College.

I have been working in various areas of field biology (fisheries, bird studies, land management/conservation), except in the last couple of years, when I was a deckhand on the Bluenose II for 8 months and then completed a 5 month sail making apprenticeship, making four new sails for the Bluenose ll.

What impact did Class Afloat have on your life and career?

Class Afloat solidified my passion for travelling and nature, and made me more confident and self-reliant. The following summer, I was part of a crew of three that sailed from Hawaii to Vancouver in a 44 ft. vessel, an opportunity that would not have presented itself without my Class Afloat background.

What is your favourite Class Afloat memory?

It’s hard to pick an absolute favourite memory from my year at sea, but one of them is when we sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar, which lies between Europe and Africa, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. This relatively narrow passage creates a ‘pinch point’ of marine life.

I remember being in biology class and our professor decided that it was too great of an opportunity to pass up, so we went aloft. It was a beautiful clear day and for miles I could see pods upon pods of dolphins, whales, and sunfish.

If you could offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I could never have imagined where I have ended up and all the things that I have have been able to do in my life so far. I would advise my younger self to step outside my comfort zone and to take advantage of every opportunity. You are only young once. That sounds so cliche, but it is true.

Being able to challenge yourself and see the world from the safety of Class Afloat affords more adventures than you could ever accomplish, or even imagine, on your own. I could not have imagined that I would be trekking across the Sahara desert on camels and sleeping in a Bedouin tent village.

What’s was your biggest takeaway from your Class Afloat journey?

Being able to explore many countries and cultures is so valuable in ways that are hard to describe. One of my biggest takeaways is that no matter how different a culture is, at their core, people are the same. Even with language barriers, we can share the same sense of humour and acknowledge our shared interests. It made me realize that we really are part of a global community.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend a day at sea on board a tall ship while crossing the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean?

In this update from the ship, our Deckhand, Nicholas, shares a close encounter with a pod of dolphins, a handful of orca and a chase that had everyone on the edge of their seat.

UTC/DATE/TIME: 09:00 12-04-2020
BOARD DATE/TIME: 08:00 12-04-2020
POSITION: 44º59’N   026º48’W
HEADING:  043º (North East)
AVG SPEED THIS VOYAGE: 6.5
DIST TRAVELED LAST 24H:  155NM
SEA STATE: The rolling waves from the West have lessened a little
resulting in the ship rolling much less than yesterday morning.
TOTAL DIST TRAVELED THIS VOYAGE: ~3741 NM
DISTANCE TO DESTINATION: 1305NM
AIR TEMP: 13º C, 57º F
WIND FORCE BEAUFORT: Force 1
SAILS CARRIED: We are still motoring along.
LOG KEEPER: Nicholas

“Yesterday was a beautiful day. It started out with a whale of a tale, as a pod of Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus), or cachalot, were spotted, the largest of the toothed whales. We altered course and observed them for an hour. The closest we came was when a mother and her calf swam right off the port bow. It was breathtaking.

As we saw them dive, we thought that would be the end of that for the day. Our engineer, Deyan, helped the cook make Schnitzel for lunch, and many agreed it was restaurant quality. Toma made Bagels by hand which we are enjoying this morning.

Shortly after lunch another very large sperm whale was spotted off the port beam. While looking out to Starboard for more sperm whales, a massive fin was observed carving out of the water coming directly toward the ship, a massive white and black head looking right at the ship before diving below.

This happened five times until the massive Orca (Killer Whale) dove below the surface. We were right in between a pod of orca whales and the hunt.

The hunt begins.

As many of us climbed the mast to get a better sight of them, we slowed down our engine and altered course once more. From aloft we saw the massive fin of the male orca whale carve once more nearly two meters out of the water, distinctive scars upon both his fin and face. As we watched, a female and a calf surfaced right next to the male; they were now heading north.

It was at this time that we noticed a large pod of dolphins swimming from east to west. Perhaps thirty in total, they were launching themselves out of the water darting to the left and right, I have never seen dolphins jump like that. As we looked on, with the male orca and the two continuing north on their intercept course for the dolphins, at least two more orca whales surfaced close behind the pod of frantic dolphins.

The trap had been sprung.

The two pods of orca whales closed in and the dolphins made another large sprint to the west to try and get away. It was at this time that the third pod of orca whales surfaced traveling west to east just a hundred yards or so in front of the dolphins. The dolphins broke ranks and darted off in all directions, flying once more out of the water as if they wished for nothing more than to have wings instead of fins.

They can fly however; I grant them that, since after a couple of minutes or so the pod of dolphins had mostly formed up again having escaped the attack from three sides by the orca whales. For the next half hour we continued to watch; Tommaso, Toma and myself laughed aloft as Deyan narrated the events in a very good impression of Sir David Attenborough.

Gradually the whales swam away leaving us once more to the calm seas as far as the eyes can see. The rest of the day was taken up by good food, and high spirits as we marvelled at our spout of good luck to be able to have experienced what we did. This Morning we continue to press on toward Europe; a thick fog rolled in this morning limiting our visibility to a couple hundred yards for much of the time. We continue to wait for the winds return, and for our final turn to the east to begin our way up the English Channel. For now we will enjoy the journey and continue to look out for whales.”

Ever wonder what it’s like to teach math on board a tall ship? Enjoy this guest blog from Class Afloat faculty alumni, Kyle O’Donnell.

As a math teacher, I often found it difficult to make experiential connections to my curricula. However, one experience that sticks with me involved a small favour for the Captain.

As it went, the boat’s deck needed a fresh coat of paint, so the Captain checked his records to see how much they ordered the previous time. In doing so, he remembered that the order was much too big and they were left with a surplus of paint. The Captain decided to reevaluate the area of the deck in order to determine a more accurate number for the subsequent order of paint.

Meanwhile, my Math 11 at Work class was working through a unit on surface area and volume and had previously done work with scale diagrams. I took the opportunity to take the Captain’s task and turn it into a learning experience. I had my class work together to create scale diagrams for the ship’s decks and to calculate the area of both the main deck and the bridge deck. In doing so, students had the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a hands-on way that also served the ship community.

Relation-Ships Matter Most

Beyond this small connection between the curriculum and ship life, the aspect of teaching with Class Afloat that resonated with me the most were the relationships formed with the students on board. Taking part in this program as a faculty member is much different from teaching in a traditional school. You are still an educator, mentor, and leader in the community, but on top of that, you spend almost every waking moment with your students for nine months.

Kyle O'Donnell - Class Afloat

This might frighten some teachers out there, but trust me, it is an incredibly rewarding experience. With such a tight knit community on board, you get a chance to learn so much about all of the students and see just how unique and impressive they are. You work with them in the classroom, eat meals with them, guide them through the experience as a Watch Dog, haul lines together on deck, explore different countries with them, watch them perform (or perform with them) at Coffee Houses, and much much more. These are the moments and the bonds that make being a faculty member with Class Afloat so special. These are the moments and the bonds that I’ll never forget.

Learn more about Kyle and his experience teaching on board Class Afloat in this Alumni in the Spotlight feature.

Get to know Class Afloat faculty and students throughout the ages in our Alumni in the Spotlight series.

Class Afloat Alumni

What’s your name?

Kyle O’Donnell

Where are you from?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What year did you sail with Class Afloat? 

I joined the Gulden Leeuw in March of 2015 to finish out the 2014-15 school year. I then returned for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. We sailed on the Atlantic.

What did you teach on board the ship?

Mathematics (Math 10, Pre-Calc 12, Calc 12, Math 12, Math at Work 11)

Where are you now?

Ottawa, ON

What have you been up to following your time at sea?

After Class Afloat, I moved to Kingston, ON to pursue a Master of Education at Queen’s University. During that time I married my beautiful best friend Liz and we welcomed our son Joël into the world. We maintained our love of travel and the outdoors with camping trips throughout North America and visits to friends and family in the States.

What impact did Class Afloat have on your life and career?

It’s impossible to measure the impact Class Afloat has had on my life. I met my now wife, Liz, onboard the Gulden Leeuw during the 2014-15 year. We developed a strong relationship that continued off the boat and has grown into starting a family of our own! Beyond that, the interpersonal relationships formed through the program feel endless. I still keep in touch with students, fellow faculty, and maritime crew from all of my years onboard.

In terms of teaching, Class Afloat gave me the opportunity to work with intelligent, highly motivated, and interesting students which I appreciate immensely. The experience also helped me develop my flexibility and creativity as a teacher.

How would you describe your experience working as a faculty member with Class Afloat?

Working as a faculty member with Class Afloat is one of the most unique opportunities in the world for educators. You are a part of a small, collaborative team that is responsible for educating, mentoring, and leading a group of remarkable and diverse young adults in an intensely unique environment. It is difficult to describe the experience in words, which I believe is a testament to its impact.

What’s your favourite Class Afloat memory?

There are many to choose from, but a few that come to mind include watching the sun rise from the sand dunes in Morocco, exploring Fernando de Noronha, and furling the t’gallant during a storm in the South Atlantic.

If you could offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Every time life gives you an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, take it.

Read more from Kyle in his blog about the Creative Classroom!

Interested in spending your 1st year of university at sea with Class Afloat?

Join our upcoming information session featuring Liam Dutton, Manager of International Recruitment at Acadia University. Learn more about programs available at Acadia and life on campus after your time at sea!

Time: May 7, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76194230019?pwd=ZmtIMldWTUlNYzV5eHF3aEx3dTFZUT09

Meeting ID: 761 9423 0019
Password: 2XNg8X

We hope to see you there!

Join us for an online information session and learn more about spending a semester or year at sea with Class Afloat.
 
Our Director of Admissions will be joined by Alumna, Amy Russell – avid sailor and Class Afloat Alumna, 2010-2011. Ask any questions you might have! Enjoy a short presentation followed by a casual Q&A.

Can’t make it? No problem! Email us at ajoblinghey@classafloat.com for a copy of the presentation.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72998994448?pwd=K09qVFNQTXdxMkZkSzNCc2s3akVXdz09

Meeting ID: 729 9899 4448
Password: 3i80Rc

Class Afloat 2019-2020: Navigating COVID-19

Every school year comes with its own set of challenges and our community does everything possible to turn these challenges into learning moments. In 2020, we have found ourselves navigating the uncharted waters of a global pandemic that forced us to bring our sailing journey to an abrupt halt in Mexico this week.

As we have witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic evolve over the past month, our primary objective at Class Afloat has been to allow our students to safely complete their Tall Ship sailing program and academic school year.

From early days, the introduction of a comprehensive COVID-19 prevention plan on board our Tall Ship, Gulden Leeuw, allowed us to continue the experiential component of our program without disruption. Isolation being a key asset in the prevention of COVID-19, few environments would have afforded our students the same protection as remaining on board the majestic Tall Ship they called home.

In contrast, changing policies at various ports presented a unique challenge to our program, forcing us to cancel our port visit to Cuba and our long-awaited parent port in Bermuda, where over 100 family members were expected to greet our student crew. To protect our community from contact in ports, we decided to sail directly from Progreso, Mexico to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a relatively isolated community on the Canadian coast and home to Class Afloat Head Office.

The Canadian Government announcement on March 16th that closed borders to non-Canadian/Americans, posed new risks to our 28 international crew members. To ensure that every member could make their way home, we made the difficult decision to end the ship-based component of our program at the port of Progreso on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Arrangements have been made that will enable Class Afloat students to finish up their course work online, thereby completing the academic school year.

Yesterday, our 2019-2020 class disembarked the Gulden Leeuw, marking an end to their incredible 7-month sailing adventure, one that carried them to 17 ports in Europe, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and Latin America covering 11,500nm (21,300km) (13,300 miles) – half the distance around the equator.

Our team of professional mariner crew have remained on board to sail the ship back to the Netherlands. The Gulden Leeuw is fully fuelled and stocked with provisions for a 35-day non-stop sail from Progreso to Amsterdam.

Tears were shed as our students said farewell to their classmates, professional crew mates, faculty and their ship. While their time at sea was cut short, students left for home on land feeling pride in what they have accomplished and gratitude for life-long friendships forged along the way. Their Class Afloat voyage has been one of discovery, exploration and reflection but as we know from experience, their real journey has only begun.

We would like to thank our families in Mexico, who showed great initiative, hospitality and generosity towards our students during this time. The sense of community that bonds each member of the Class Afloat family is a true testament to the values upon which Class Afloat was established over 35 years ago.

Looking forward, we are excited about the exceptional group of students that have been accepted for admission to join next year’s student crew. While spots remain, our Admission’s Team continues to accept and process applications for our 2020-2021 school year. Please note that we will be monitoring the situation as in unfolds and, if required, will communicate any changes to next year’s journey.

If you have any questions during this time, please do not hesitate to contact us via email or by phone at 902-634-1895. We are available to answer any questions you might have.

Sincerely yours,
David Jones
President, Class Afloat

Class Afloat takes this opportunity to inform current and prospective families that we continue to actively monitor the evolving situation relating to the spread of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on both a global and local scale.

The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to advise against “the application of travel or trade restrictions” except in relation to specific locations where local authorities have implemented travel restrictions as part of a local containment strategy in infected communities. Detailed information is available on the WHO website.

In addition, Class Afloat follows the International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidance on operational considerations for preventing and managing COVID-19 on ships,

Please be assured that Class Afloat continues to monitor any risk posed by COVID-19. As always, the safety of our crew remains our top priority.

Onboard, Class Afloat staff continue to stress the importance of healthy hygiene practices, particularly hand-washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, etc. Students exhibiting symptoms of illness will be seen by the Medical Officer and brought to local clinics as required.

Will COVID-19 affect Class Afloat programming?

Class Afloat is closely monitoring the local situation in ports that remain on our 2020-2021 itinerary. At present, Health Canada has not issued any travel advisory warnings for our remaining five ports of call. Should concerns arise in any port on our itinerary, we will assess and, if necessary, revise our route accordingly.

In past years, we have adjusted our itinerary to avoid areas at risk for infectious disease:

  • 2014 – rerouted around West Africa in response to Ebola outbreak
  • 2011 – rerouted around Haiti in response to Cholera outbreak

In both cases, the itinerary was re-routed to alternative ports and the program continued without interruption.

Please note that, as of now, the same precautions will be in place for ports currently listed as part of our 2020-2021 route.

If you have concerns about COVID-19 as it pertains to Class Afloat, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time

At the 47th Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships in St. Petersburg, Florida, Class Afloat was named Sea Education Program of the Year!

The award is handed out each year by Tall Ships America, an organization focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America.

What is the Sea Education Program of the Year Award?

The Sea Education Program of the Year Award is given out each year to a current member of Tall Ships America in recognition of a program that has significantly contributed to the educational credibility of programs under sail.

Sea Education Award from Tall Ships America

This is a tremendous honour for the entire team at Class Afloat! From our student crew, faculty and mariners traveling on board our tall ship Gulden Leeuw to our Leadership Team at headquarters in Lunenburg Nova Scotia – this award is an accumulation of hard work and a longstanding tradition of academic rigour and sail training.

Our President, David Jones, graciously accepted the award on behalf of our entire crew: “I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of our Class Afloat students, faculty and mariners aboard the Gulden Leeuw. Each year is a new year at Class Afloat. Our crew creates their own community, develops their own values and they live those community values every day while they sail their ship, study and explore the world. I accept this on behalf of our students and professional crew on the ship – it’s their award!”

Learn more about spending a semester or full school year or Gap Year at sea with Class Afloat! Enjoy a short presentation followed by a casual Q&A with our Director of Admissions.

Things we’ll be covering include:
– Academics (high school, gap year and university options)
– Port programs
– Student life
– Volunteer opportunities
– Application process
– Tuition fees
– Scholarships and deadlines

How to Join:
1. Send us a message or contact request over Skype. Our Skype name is: Class Afloat – West Island College International Recruitment and Admissions.

** IMPORTANT ** Please include a note with your request mentioning that you are joining specifically for our INFORMATION SESSION. If you do not include this information with your request, you may not be added to the session.

2. Jot down a few questions you have about the program.

3. Grab a snack and hang tight! We’ll invite you to join the conversation – you don’t have to do a thing.

Have to leave early? Don’t worry about it! Just leave us your email address and we’ll send you a copy of the presentation.

Questions? Email our Director of Admissions directly at ajoblinghey@classafloat.com or send us a DM and we’ll get back to you asap.