Last summer, I had the incredible opportunity to be part of an Outward Bound sailing course, an experience that I hope to do again in the near future. I had never sailed before, and the thought of spending multiple days on the water was intimidating, but I didn’t let that feeling prevent me from experiencing it.
From the first day it was clear that this was no ordinary journey. We were not just passengers on the boat; we were the crew and responsible for ensuring our safety and navigation. Every person and action had a purpose, and communication was the key to our success in completing the course. I had the opportunity to sail with eight incredibly talented people who always knew what needed to be done and what was required for us to make it.
When I first stepped on the boat, I didn’t know any of them. And it was crazy to think we’d be living less than a foot apart from each other. Happily, we quickly became more than comfortable with each other. It felt as if we had known each other for years, making our journey along the coast of Maine all the more memorable.
Living on the boat wasn’t easy. Given that we were so close to each other, we always had to be careful not to throw anyone overboard or put too much weight on one side of the boat. We learned to organize ourselves, taking turns cooking, keeping the boat clean, and ensuring that we all had what we needed. We had commands for everything, such as “all hands” to get everyone’s attention and indicate the plan. There were many disagreements and discussions — but we learned from them, and they helped us get closer to one other.
While we had many laughs, too, the best part of the course was what we all lived through together. The countless landscapes we saw. The animals we encountered. The challenges. And all the nights we stayed up talking.
One day, when we were looking for a spot to anchor for the night, we came across a broken ship stuck on the shore. I was the first to shout that we should get closer and check it out, and surprisingly, everyone agreed. We found a spot to anchor and swam to the shore. Sitting on the beach, watching the sunset near the shipwreck, was by far one of the best moments of the trip.
While a few of us set up the tarp for the night, others cooked. We always ended the day in a circle where we chatted about the day’s ups and downs and then laid the oars across the boat to make our beds. We always talked until we all fell asleep (except for the anchor watch). More than once, we were told to “Quiet down!” since we wouldn’t stop talking.
Overall, Outward Bound was an incredible experience. The communication and collaboration required by all of us is what made it successful. I’m grateful for the opportunity and the lessons I learned out on the water. I wish everyone could experience such an opportunity at least once.
Anthony Rivera graduated from the Princeton-Blairstown Center’s (PBC) Leader-in-Training Program in 2024 and was nominated by PBC to attend this special Outward Bound experience. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School who is taking a gap year to work and apply for college.
