“They’re the most adaptive children of 2020,” says Christophe Meijer. He’s referring to 25 Dutch high-school students sailing an unscheduled trans-Atlantic voyage. The students’ itinerary was to sail across the Caribbean to a final port of call in Cuba. That’s where they planned to exchange their tall ship for a comfortable plane flight home. The coronavirus forced a change of plans and a different route back to the Netherlands.
The Wylde Swan is the 200-foot schooner carrying the group on the five-week, 4,350-mile voyage. The students, ages 14-17, are under the watchful eyes of 12 experienced sailors and three teachers.
Meijer is the director of Masterskip, the company that arranged the Dutch excursion. Masterskip runs five educational voyages for students each year, and this one has been memorable––to say the least.
“These children have had to adapt to enormous change. They went from the Netherlands to the Caribbean to go sailing. That’s amazing in itself. Then suddenly you have to change the whole program and you have to cross the ocean,” explains Meijer.
The Wylde Swan ran into trouble early on in its trip when local authorities took steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Ports closed. Airlines canceled flights. It was clear that the plan to sail the students to the final port of call in Cuba and then fly them home needed to change.
Meijer and his staff decided the best way home was to sail. Relief dispelled worry and the students’ parents supported the decision to sail back to the Netherlands. It was reassuring that the Wylde Swan had crossed the ocean at least 20 times, and its crew has experience in ocean voyages with students.
In Acts 27, we read about the harrowing voyage Paul made by ship on his way to Rome. In the midst of a storm, Paul encouraged the crew to trust in God’s protection. “Take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told,” says verse 25.
The students aboard the Wylde Swan have conquered seasickness, but the trip hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Closed ports make it hard to restock fresh supplies. The teens onboard in very close quarters for so long have had their preferences challenged. Interaction and tension have caused a few waves.
“As we say in the Netherlands, you can’t make something shine without friction,” notes Meijer. But overall, the crew is united. Their goal is to get safely home. “That shared goal ensures solidarity,” Meijer affirms.
(Dutch high-school children work the sail on the bowsprit of the Wylde Swan tall ship on April 10, 2020. Arthur Smeets/Wylde Swan via AP)
