The Logbook - Many Overnight Successes! World Ocean School
- Jan 26
- 3 min read
It did not take long to settle into ship life.
By the second night, students were standing anchor watch with confidence, coiling lines cleanly, and beginning to feel like a seasoned galley clean-up crew. From the Winter Ambassador Voyage to our recent overnight program with Landmark College, the days quickly blurred into a familiar rhythm of early mornings, shared work on deck, lessons, and long conversations with new friends. The ship became both classroom and home.
Watching students make the ship their own and embrace the challenge of life aboard is always a remarkable experience. Individual students stepped into new roles and responsibilities, often in quiet ways like taking the helm through the narrow Fungi Passage in St. John or leading a furl of a headsail.
These are the kinds of moments that stay with young people long after they return to shore.
And no one can tell that story better than the students themselves.
Upcoming Event/Programs
Christiansted Sunset Sails
December 3rd-March 6th
Raise the sails alongside the crew
Sip a refreshing drink as the sun sets
Relax with family and friends while taking in stunning St. Croix views
Every ticket supports free educational programs for local students aboard Denis Sullivan
Use code SAIL10 for 10% off your next Sunset Sail. The code is valid until 2/12/2026
St. Croix Gala
Saturday, Feb 7th, 2026
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Ha’Penny Bay Beach Club
Supporting educational programs aboard Denis Sullivan for local students
Hors d'oeuvres by Chef Motta, open bar, and signature Gala cocktail
Silent auction, live music, and beachfront setting
Tickets on sale now!
Crew Spotlight: Capt. Todd Brenna
Todd’s been a licensed captain for 18 years and has sailed many different vessels, both modern and traditional, including Westward, Gazela, Denis Sullivan, Issac Evans, Utopia, and Edith M. Becker. Prior to his maritime career, Todd was a marine biologist and water policy expert. He now lives in Racine, WI with three kids, a wife, two dogs, a cat, and 10-ish chickens. He runs a small farm as well as his own maritime services company, including an ASA-accredited sailing school, USCG-certified captains courses, commercial marine surveying, and boat deliveries. No matter what boat he’s on, Todd enjoys creating a community at sea and sharing adventures with others.
Where's Denis Sullivan?
Denis Sullivan has been busy this winter on educational programs and harbor sails in beautiful Christiansted, USVI.
Happen to see Denis Sullivan in Christiansted Harbor? Send us your photos - tag us at @worldoceanschool on our social media accounts below.
The Wind In Our Sails - Partner Shoutouts
We're sailing further - and reaching more students - thanks to the generosity of our funding partners.
Special thanks to Neighborhood Establishment, Ocean Point Terminals, Antilles Capital and Plessen Management Services. Together, you're helping us chart brighter futures, one program at a time.
A knot with a long memory
Long before ratchet straps, the trucker’s hitch has been solving the same problem: how to make things stay while the things underneath them moved.
Sometimes called the power knot, the trucker’s hitch creates a simple pulley system using the rope itself, letting you pull a line far tighter than your hands could alone. This makes full use of the mechanical advantage.
Uses:
• Lashing equipment on deck
• Creating temporary rigging for repairs
• Tensioning a tarp to act as a projector screen
