Dutch Counterparts, Seaturtles, and Whalers in Bequia

Walking back across the island from Friendship Bay, where we checked out some whale boats local whalers used to hunt humpbacks, we saw a large schooner anchored off of Gamage's stern flying the Friesian flag. She turned out to be the Wylde Swan, of the Netherlands, with teenage trainees aboard. What a fortuitous turn of events! We decided to prolong our stay to interact with another group of high school students learning at sea. We played some typical Dutch games and were able to check out each other's boats... the Wylde Swan boasts air conditioning, flush toilets, showers, and watermakers. But she also taught our kids how much they love Gamage, and the very real and intimate relationship we all have to our ship, our home.

Earlier in Bequia we visited the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, where "Brother" King taught us about his quest to conserve the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, the very species he grew up hunting as a young man.