Island Times Blog

Aloha once again, everyone! My name is Angie (aka. “Dr. Chippy”), and I’m the Director of Marine Science and Intern Coordinator for SeaTrek BVI. I hope this post finds you warm and optimistic that spring will soon arrive, giving us some relief from this challenging winter weather!

 I am writing this blog in recognition and appreciation of our friends at the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society who recently launched the Endeavour II, the Society’s major flagship program that was nine years in the making. Endeavour II is a 32-foot wooden sailing vessel with a design based on the “Tortola Boats,” a type of sailing vessel that became prevalent in the Virgin Islands during the Emancipation era. The idea to build a traditional-lines sloop to serve the youth of the wider BVI started many years ago and was based upon the vision of Foxy Callwood and friends, the enthusiastic support of local residents, and the boat building gusto of Kevin Gray. Their vision was to build a floating classroom that would provide the community and youth with an opportunity to reconnect with their rich maritime heritage and learn new skills relevant to sailing and marine science. Endeavour II would also serve as a research platform, allowing JVDPS and their collaborators to conduct a variety of service learning, conservation, natural resource management projects.

 Despite the many challenges of this ambitious project, the perseverance and hard work of JVDPS and the JVD community paid off. With the guidance of professional boat builders, work of countless volunteers, and over 8000 youth apprentice hours, Endeavour II successfully launched on November 25, 2013. We invite you to find out more about this exciting project and JVDPS by visiting their website and Facebook page. Please feel free to express your congratulations to them and review some of the photos and videos that document this exciting “endeavour.” CONGRATULATIONS, JVDPS!!! Well done and fair winds. SeaTrek can’t wait to join you out there on the water in the BVIs!

*Information and photos provided by Susan Zaluski (www.jvdps.org) and https://www.facebook.com/JVDPS.