Sailing on the Providence Reflection
Hello friends,
It is that time again, reflection time! Below are some questions/prompts to get you jumpstarted on your reflections from sailing on the Providence in Howe Sound. Feel free to respond to one or more than one if you would like. Or feel free to write without prompts (whatever floats your boat;)) As always, please remember to write in full sentences and to submit at least 1 paragraph length response.
- What was the most memorable/favorite thing you learned/did on the Providence?
- We took some water samples in Howe Sound, did you notice anything peculiar about the sample? Whether it be salinity, pH, nitrate, temperature?
- We analyzed some saltwater samples and observed some zooplankton and phytoplankton, What was the coolest organism that you saw?
- Do you think you can live on a boat for an extended period of time? Is a career in the principles of oceanography something you would want to pursue?
- Describe your experience on a 120 year old boat. Was it your first time sailing on a vessel like this?
- Free prompt, write about whatever you feel like, any connections you made while sailing, see anything cool on the trip?
10 Replies
Never in my life did I think I would have the chance to go sailing all day on a 120 year old sail boat. YouthToSea keeps providing me with unique, once in a lifetime opportunities that always exceed my expectations and this excursion did exactly that! From the moment I stepped on that boat and we took off to sea, I felt so free, like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. (no rhyme intended :) ) Never have I ever felt more like Moana in my entire life! Although the entire day was fantastic, my favourite part of sailing was just looking out into the vast, open ocean. It truly took my breath away, especially when I was able to venture out onto the net at the front of the boat. From that point of the boat, the view was definitely the greatest! Alongside this, I also loved having the chance to steer the boat myself. I have to say that operating a vintage boat steering wheel, like the one you see in Pirates of the Caribbean or other pirate movies, has been on my bucket list for years and I can't believe I actually got the change to cross it off! While steering, I learned that it takes quite a while for the boat to respond to your steering movements, so patience is key. In addition to being enjoyable, this experience was also supper eye opening to new passions I have and possible career paths I can take. After learning about oceanography and mapping Orca Whales , I was shocked to see how interesting all that work is to me. I realised that I love being out on the ocean just as much as I love science. The greatest part is that I also became aware that their are plenty of jobs out there that would allow me to be out on the water, constantly researching and observing marine life. I never considered it before, but now I have been exposed to a new job possibility that I will definitely consider as I begin applying for post secondary schools this year in grade 12. With university quickly approaching, I am so grateful that I was able to unlock this passion, as it defiantly will help guide me down the right path in the future. Thanks YouthToSea for the amazing, eye opening experience. It was definitely one I will never forget!
Sailing on the Providence in Howe Sound was considered as an one in a lifetime experience for me as I enjoyed the amazing weather with all the other fellow YouthToSea members and the Providence crew. As I look back on this excursion, one of the most memorable I learned on the Providence was getting a chance to listen to Ethan explain about plankton and brainstorming with the other fellow members of YouthToSea about the food web of marine animals. Although the water samples wasn't working as the microscope was broken, it was still pretty exciting since I saw another group catch a small green fish that made everyone laugh. This sailing opportunity was a new eye-opener as it opened more career choices I can definitely consider after post-secondary or pursue to study in university about oceanography. Moreover, my experience on the 120 year boat was an exciting journey that made me feel as if I was living my life at its best. Like imagine living inside the amazing boat like this one!! (except the ladder of the vessel going to the bottom part of the boat, it almost made me trip a few times going down there) Nonetheless, everything in this excursion was a highlight in general and I will make sure to note down the new information I learned during this experience on the Providence!
Thank you to all the YouthToSea staff and members, as well as the Providence crew that made this all happen for the students in the program.
+ also to all the great people I met that I was able to have an interesting conversation with too.
My experience sailing on the Providence was truly unforgettable. Sailing up the Howe Sound was amazing- especially when you get to be on a 120 year old boat! I loved learning about the Transient, Resident and Off shore Orcas and discovering how to tell the difference between them. The water samples we collected and observed were also really cool, as my group was lucky enough to spot some different organisms. I also learned how to tie knots which were really fun to practice! Aside from the great activities we got to do, I was lucky enough to meet people and form new connections with them as we got to experience the beauty of the open ocean.
Thank you YouthToSea and the Providence Crew for making this incredible experience possible!
The providence sailing experience was certainly a unique one, and one I'll never forget. Despite sailing on a 120-year-old boat, it had everything I could have imagined a modern boat would have. It even had its own sail! On the Providence, we learned how to raise, lower, and adjust the sails, as well as tie numerous knots. However, this wasn't a normal school trip because rather than ensuring we're engaged at all times and working on things, the Youth to Sea team treated us as who we are; youths with the ability to think and do things they want to. So with that opportunity at hand, a majority of the trip was spent lying down to combat the seasickness derived from the waves. However, as we neared the end of the trip, I realized how much I would miss being on the boat.
Sailing on the Providence was an unforgettable experience. It was my first time on such an old sailboat, and I got to learn a bunch of new things during our excursion. Firstly, I learned about the many sails on the boat and how to raise/lower them. I never realized how heavy each of the sails would be and that it takes a lot of teamwork to make sure everything goes smoothly. Another thing I learned was how to tie various types of knots, such as the bowline, clove hitch, and reef knots. Some of the knots were a bit challenging to tie at first, but with some practice, it was really fun and I could tie them more quickly. Something else I really enjoyed during the trip was getting to steer the boat. The boat didn't travel too fast so I didn't need to do too much, but being able to stand up high and see all around the boat was quite amazing. After spending most of the day on the boat where it was really rocky, my most favourite memory was lying out on the net at the front of the boat because it was super relaxing. I definitely wouldn't be able to live on a boat for an extended period of time because as the waves became rough, I started to feel motion sickness and really tired. Although the day was really long and the weather was really warm out, I enjoyed spending time with the other Y2S members and making new friends. I never would have imagined going sailing through Howe Sound, so thank you to the Y2S and Providence staff for an incredible experience!
This was the first time I'd ever experienced sailing and it was, without a doubt, one of the coolest things I got to do this summer. While sea sickness may have taken a toll on me, meeting new people and learning new things in such a friendly environment was definitely worth it. I loved learning about the three types of orcas (resident, transient and off-shore). Previous to this, I hadn't even known there were different types! Knowing the characteristics of the three actually came in handy when, just a week after our sailing trip, I went whale watching with my family and was able to spot and correctly identify two pods of transient orcas. Sailing on the providence was the perfect combination of fun and hands-on learning and I'm so grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part in it.
Sailing on a 120 year old boat was quite an unforgettable experience. This is my first time sailing on a large boat like this, instead of sailing on small ones that only occupy 3 people. It was a really fun experience when I wasn’t seasick. Especially, when we were sitting on the net of the front of the boat. It was very peaceful and the only part of the boat where you wouldn’t feel seasick! My favourite thing I learned was definitely how to raise and to lower the sail of the boat because we got to do it ourselves and it was an important job, as without the sail we wouldn’t be able to move. It was cool how we learned a bunch of different knots as well, which could be useful in the future for camping or any outdoor adventures that need knowledge on knot tying. When we were observing zooplankton and phytoplankton unfortunately that was the beginning of me getting seasick so I didn’t see any and just ended up lying at the back of the boat with all the other seasick kids. However, I did get to help take the water samples right before and found the process interesting and did notice there were some tiny white flakes in our water samples, that may either be waste or an organism. I don’t think I can live on a boat for an extended period of time cuz I get seasick, but I could possibly last a day on a boat.
I had an amazing time sailing on the Providence. Although I've been sailing on anything from dinghy sailboats to 40-foot sailboats, the Providence was by far the biggest, oldest, and most beautiful one. To me, oceanography seems like the perfect career. I love spending time on the water and in the field and I'm also fascinated by a variety of sciences like chemistry, biology, physics, and environmental science. Oceanography is the perfect blend of all these things. Although there's practically nothing about the ocean that doesn't interest me, a highlight of this excursion was the plankton tow. I've always been interested in plankton, (I mean phytoplankton supply over 50% of our oxygen, how could I not be?) and have done a plankton tow before when my class went to Bamfield Marine Science Center, and it was the highlight of that trip as well. It was great to refresh my memory as that was 5 years ago and this time I was a lot more involved and got to tow the net myself. We saw a whole bunch of copepods in the sample we collected. Something I learned that surprised me a lot is that plankton can be any size as long as it drifts around with the ocean currents. That means that even jellyfish can be plankton!
As I think about my future working in some field of marine biology, boat-life has been on my mind. Today being on the Providence reminded me how much I love being on the water, especially on large sail boats. A career in oceanography, specifically graphing whale patterns, seems rewarding, beautiful, and adventurous. Using nautical graphs has always been exciting for me as well as working in the field. Graphing whale trails is a great combo. YouthToSea continuously invites me to explore dozens of marine paths and today I found one that felt intriguing!
I rarely go on boats so this experience was very exciting for me. Being able to sail on a 120 year old boat felt like a great honour and its something I will never forget and if the boat goes in a museum one day, I will be proud to say that I sailed on it. One of my favourite things about that day is learning about Transient, Resident, and Off Shore Orcas and I had a lot of fun explaining the difference between them to my family. I was also able to see a diatom in the water samples we collected and I found it really interesting because in geography class, I had learned that they provided 20% of the worlds oxygen. Another memory that really stands out is being able to look at the horizon from the boat and watching the sparkling ocean. The big waves rocking the boat was really fun to experience until half of the crew started feeling motion sickness. Being able to use the wheel and navigate the boat was really fun as well and I learned that sailing a boat was nothing like driving a car. Thank you so much to everyone that made this possible and letting me experience something that I wouldn't normally have a chance to do!
The most memorable thing about this excursion is that I can meet new friends and get to sail on a boat for the first time. It was an eye-opening experience for me as I can enjoy nature and other peers. My favorite thing is that I can have such fun times with people and my mentors, learning about the ocean and its fun facts. Analyzing the water samples through a microscope was indeed interesting, my team was able to find phytoplankton and other small organisms. The water samples as surprisingly clean and weren't that polluted as expected. Being on a boat is really relaxing since you can have such a beautiful view of the ocean but I don't think I can live on a boat for the rest of my life. I would prefer huge cities and high skyscrapers because that's what I like. This sailing experience is quite unforgettable and I would definitely go sailing next time with my friends and families.
I had a memorable experience sailing on the Providence. The weather was beautiful and I was surrounded by like-minded students. One of my favourite activities was observing the plankton through the microscope. I also enjoyed learning how to distinguish the various types of orca whales. The sailing opportunity, like other Y2S activities, has helped me understand possible career options. I am so excited so have participated. I had an excellent time! Thank you to the crew and Ethan, Michelle, and Brittany!
Sitting on the starboard side of the Providence, looking out at the beautiful landscapes of Howe sound was absolutely remarkable. I could not believe that the Providence was a 120-year-old boat! It was my first time sailing on a vessel like this, and I am so glad to have been able to experience it with YouthToSea! To begin with, I loved being out on the open ocean. I especially loved sitting at the back of the boat and looking at the small cluster of islands out on the ocean. As for the activities, I found that analyzing the water samples for plankton with a microscope to be very intriguing. My team and I had so much fun using the technology and equipment during the process. Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed classifying the different types of orcas that reside around us using coordinates on a map. These two activities amplified the delight of the whole excursion on the Providence! Consequently, this experience provided an opportunity for me to re-evaluate my career paths for the future. I thoroughly enjoyed learning in depth about oceanography and marine life, as well as water chemistry. The trip on the Providence was a valuable experience for me to consider a career in marine biology. I have a huge adoration for science and marine life and would love to pursue these passions in post-secondary career options. The experience reminded me just how much I truly love the ocean and science. Thank you YouthToSea and the Providence Crew for this once in a lifetime, beyond incredible experience!
I'm really grateful to have been able to experience sailing on the Providence! On top of being a rare opportunity, I got to learn many things about the ocean, sailing, as well as the history of an Indigenous village. Since it was my first time being on a sailboat, seeing all the different features of the Providence itself was quite exciting. The boat was actually bigger than I had imagined, and the cabin area below deck was fun to be in. When we were learning about food webs in the ocean, I was surprised to learn that some jellyfish eat crabs, despite jellyfish being soft and lacking bones. On a side note, it was pretty impressive how Ethan was able to draw so many marine organisms without any reference pictures. We also had the chance to try to observe some zooplankton and phytoplankton, but unfortunately the microscope wasn't really focusing when we tried to use it. I did manage to see some sort of swimming dark organism at one point, however I'm not sure what it was exactly. Although everything was interesting, I particularly enjoyed learning about the different types and characteristics of the three main types of killer whales (Resident, Transient and Offshore). I don't think I plotted all of the killer whale sightings on the map correctly, but it was fun to see what kind of behaviours were observed and around where they were seen. In addition to being on the Providence, I got to see a bit of how the crew kept the boat sailing properly. Although I didn't experience tying the ropes of the boat, I did try out some knots on spare pieces of rope, and, with the help of a Y2S member with sailing competition experience, managed to tie a more intermediate type of knot. Aside from being on the Providence, we also went on an island (the name escapes my mind at the moment), where we saw firsthand the clues of an Indigenous village once being there. Seeing the calcium in the ground from former piles of clam shells and the rocks that were chipped into was really cool as it was evidence that people once lived on the island. I must admit, all the activities combined with the high temperature left me feeling exhausted at the end, but the experience was wonderful, so thank you to the crew and everyone who was a part of the planning and realization of it!
There’s something very special about being out in open water, seeing all the coastlines and islands passing by you, hearing the waves, and learning about what lives beneath them- and a day spent on the Providence with my incredible YouthToSea cohort captured exactly that.
I had never been on a ship anywhere close to the age and size of the Providence, so learning how to raise the sails, tie common knots, and even have the chance to steer the ship was thrilling. I was lucky enough to not feel seasick at all throughout the entire journey, but the heat and rocking of the ship were definitely tough on others. It made me realize that I would probably enjoy living on a boat or even just for a longer period of time for something related to oceanography research. I truly enjoyed every activity that we did on the Providence, but one that especially stood out to me was learning about the types of orcas in the area, how to identify them, and having the chance to map them with Michelle! Doing a plankton tow with Ethan and learning more about phytoplankton and zooplankton was also an amazing experience, although my group had a harder time finding any of the organisms under a microscope.
This excursion was not only a really informative, insightful and intriguing learning experience, but a chance for me to feel more connected to both the ocean and my fellow YouthToSea members. Thank you to Michelle, Britt, Ethan, the crew at the Providence, and everyone else who helped make this incredible journey possible!
What an amazing experience! Never would I have thought I’d have the opportunity to sail on an early 20th-century ship or steer the boat myself. I found it pretty interesting to take the ferry to Bowen Island first and then sail on the Providence. It’s amazing to compare the different modes of water transport and the progression in sailing that has been made in the last 120 years. Imagine what our ships or ferries will look like 120 years from now. There were plenty of highlights throughout the day, but I would have to say that putting up the sails was pretty high on my list of favorite things. It was hard work, and I now definitely understand how sailors got so strong so quickly; my partner and I had a hard time pulling them up together. You have to have people working simultaneously to put up the sails, equally putting the same amount of effort into either side to ensure both the front and back are raised at the same time.
Although I enjoyed both the phytoplankton activity (especially mapping the food web!) and the orca activity, I have to say that mapping and determining the different species and locations of the orcas was my favorite. I’ve loved looking at maps and plotting locations ever since I was very young, and this activity combined my interest in mapping, marine life as well as a certain degree of logical thinking in using different information to determine what type of whale each was as well as brainstorming some predictions and ideas based on the data. This is definitely something I can see myself doing in the future, and I am really thankful I had the opportunity to find a possible career that combines my interests and strengths. Overall, a wonderful excursion; I will certainly try to get out on the water and put the knowledge and skills I’ve learned to work for whenever the next time I have the chance!
~ Victoria Pitsiaeli
I enjoyed going sailing on the Providence. We saw seals and learned how to identify different orcas, which was very interesting. One of my favourite activities was mapping the whale sightings and learning how to determine which type of orca was according to things like: the shape of the fin, number in the group, how noisy it was, etc. I also learned that that's a career in demand. I noticed that compared to the samples taken at Deep Cove, the water had a lot higher salinity level; hence there was no freshwater input close by. Some highlights were jumping from the boat into the water and then swimming, sitting at the very front of the boat, enjoying the view, and steering the boat at the end of the trip. I had a lot of fun steering the boat while people helped with the sail; it was chaotic but very fun. I had only sailed in a lot smaller boats, so sailing on a 120 YEARS OLD! boat of that size was crazy. It was also fun to learn about the food web and the importance of plankton and zooplankton, which we got to see in the water sample we collected. Oceanography really interests me, so learning about its principles was amazing. Just being out in the middle of the sea and not seeing any piece of land felt incredibly peaceful and different.
Jenna Bevacqua
Aug 11, 2021 at 12:56 PM