Seamester: Virgin Islands to the Mediterranean - 40 Days

I had done two years of Action Quest prior to my decision to try SeaMester. It seemed like a big jump and a much more serious undertaking- and it was, in the best possible way. My six weeks aboard Argo remain a few of the most significant of my life thus far. During that time, I was responsible for my own well-being as well as that of my fellow shipmates. It was an environment that did not lack in struggle, but was rich with fun, camaraderie, learning and friendship.

You must be prepared to embrace the work and responsibility, as you will be a member of the crew, but do not take that with any negative connotation. The bonds you will form in that type of environment are unique and strong. The full-time staff are knowledgeable, helpful, often hilarious and, for lack of a better word, awesome. You will meet and make friends with people from all over the world, and learn from people who are different from yourself in a way which is wonderful and eye-opening.

If you are lucky enough to be able to get onboard a ship with SeaMester, do not take it for granted- jump at the opportunity and treat it as the privilege that it is. If you are on the fence, pull the proverbial trigger without any more hesitation. I could not be more grateful to have gone on that voyage across the Atlantic, and I am confident that you will feel the same.

The Atlantic crossing was an adventure I still talk about to this day and even became an integral part of my story in my medical school application. It was a thrilling experience to be such an integral part of a diverse team working together to navigate across an entire ocean. I saw so many things, big and small, that I would never have been able to experience in any other setting. For example, I watched satellites zoom across a sky filled to the brim with stars, swam in dead-calm water that was thousands of feet deep, made dolphin sightings part of my daily routine, and discovered a love for the Azores hundreds of miles of the coast of Spain. If you've always wanted to learn how to sail in the most unique of ways I highly recommend this trip. Ever wanted to know how land smells? Want to be able to watch Pirates of the Caribbean and point out all the parts of the ship (and know how to sail it)? Have a passion for salt or learning to cook in a tilted kitchen? I picked up so many large and small skills on my crossing that I use more often than anyone would expect. If you don't mind creating close ties with a group of strangers by accomplishing a feat sailors have been doing for millennia, then this is the trip for you.

This summer I spent 40 days crossing the Atlantic ocean with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. The passion and energy that the Sea|Mester crew brought to S/Y Argo is what made my trip so special. I highly recommend any Sea|Mester program to anyone who loves to explore, sail, or wants to push themselves to do something simply extraordinary. I will never forget the time on board or the friends I made.

Seamester is an amazing program. Not only do you experience the world in a unique way, you connect with incredible staff and students from a huge variety of backgrounds. No matter your level of experience you feel accepted and valued.

You learn so much, not just about the tangible activities such as sailing, diving, or navigation but about yourself. You open up and become authentic. Truly life changing.

Recommended 100%.

I came onto this voyage, excited but not really knowing what to expect, I came out of it with a better understanding and new sense of the world. The trip was phenomenal and I am 100% glad I did it.

Ever since I was little, my big dream was to do an Ocean Crossing, and this trip allowed me to follow my dreams. The smell of the fresh ocean air mixed with the sight of nothing but ocean for miles in any direction is incredible, but also very hard to describe to people who have not experienced it.

We started out in the BVIs with stops along the way to eventually get to our final destination of France. Along the way, we were doing everything on board. We took turns helming, going on watch, cooking our meals, cleaning up and more. You were a full member of the crew, and had the responsibilities as such. On top of that, we were also taking an oceanography class, which you may be able to get college credit for. It sounds like a lot, but it is completely manageable and you will never be bored.

This was an experience that I will never forget and I hope you get the opportunity to as experience it as well.

The review prompt asks me to tell a story about my voyage. The entire trip was a series of stories; I'm not sure how to choose. I steered a schooner off the dock before losing sight of land for over two weeks. I and my shipmates took Argo through a squall (with following seas) on a moonless night. I have dozens of pictures of sunrise over the Iberian Peninsula as we transited the Strait of Gibraltar. In the Mediterranean, we saw a tall ship which looked like an illuminated floating mountain. I ate 5 kinds of ice cream in one day in the Azores. This trip was life-changing and produced many of my favorite memories. A top-notch crew and interesting group of shipmates, along with a beautiful ship, made the experience possible. I cannot recommend this program highly enough.