Call of the Sea greatly enjoyed having the SOAR Foster Youth Leadership Summit aboard for an afternoon educational sail aboard Matthew Turner on July 23.

The sail schedule consisted of a seamanship portion, where the foster youth engaged in hands-on hoisting of the main sails. Raising several of the sails was enjoyable for everyone aboard, the group exhibited a good natured competition to raise their sail more quickly, and there was a great sense of camaraderie throughout the ship. 

Once under sail power, the passengers split into three groups which rotated through four education stations: Knots, Navigation, Plankton Tow, and Marine Mammals. The knots activity was by far the most popular. Each group exhibited a great ability to learn several complicated nautical knots, including the bowline and highwayman’s hitch, and were enthusiastically practicing these knots for the rest of the day.

Thank you Native Daughters of the Golden West Childrens Foundation, for sponsoring the sail and shirts and hats for the SOAR leadership group!  Additional support provided by Mark Michaelsen at DryUV, for creating and donating to the swag fund, and Call of the Sea’s scholarship fund donors.