A few weeks ago my older son John and I spent the better part of a week aboard the 52 foot sailing ketch Retriever, as part of the Scouts BSA Great Lakes Sailing Adventure.

John and I sail under the Mackinac Bridge

We had two experienced crew leading the way, Captain Steph and First Mate Jonathan. The actual crewing of the boat was done by the six Scouts on board, with help from three adult Scout Leaders. The boys did it all: raising and lowering the sails, handling the sails, manning the helm, navigating and plotting our courses, guiding by ATONs (aids to navigation – buoys and the like), and everything else that needed to be done.

It was fabulous. We kept stressing with the boys that almost nobody in the world gets an opportunity like that. And of course, that was true for me and the other adult leaders as well.

We never went far from the boat’s home base of Mackinaw City, Michigan – but we visited islands and lighthouses and remote marinas with charming little boatworks-ice cream emporium-coffee shop combos (see my separate post after this one with more about that). We toured a wooden boat refurbishing shop, and helped build up a trail on a remote island to help another Troop with their rehab work on historic old buildings.

Our Captain and First Mate were fabulous. They were wonderful with the boys, keeping the dryer classroom-style education interesting while playing up the adventurous and fun parts of running the boat.

I miss them. I miss the boat. I’m starting to understand why that dude couldn’t stay put, even with Brandy and her eyes that could steal a sailor from the sea. But don’t tell Miss ViVi.

PS – it sure was cool to make actual use of all those knots we’ve learned over the years…

Retriever