SV Concordia is a barquentine rigged tall ship.  She is 188 ft long and has a crew of 64 people.  The Concordia takes students abroad and teaches them about sailing a tall ship as well as providing high school and GAP year schooling.  She is based out of Lunenburg Nova Scotia and the program is called Class Afloat.  Right now Concordia is in the Indian Ocean on her way to Oman.

The High Altitude Club is an extremely respected club to be a member of on the S/V Concordia.  Not only do you have to know how to set and douse all sixteen of her sails, but every bit of safety knowledge too.  It is the club that teaches you everything about the seamanship aspect of the ship down the smallest details. 

My name is Maddie and I am one of forty-eight students on board. I am also one of four members of the High Altitude Club.  It was quite the journey to achieve this status, but it was worth every minute.  It took hours of studying and countless attempts to, for example, master how to set the main without forgetting one single detail.  If I wasn’t in class or on day watch, I was on the bridge with our first mate going over safety or sailing related topics. 

On the day of my final test I was so nervous.  I knew I had all of the information in my head, but it was just a matter of being able to say it all.  When the words “congratulations you’re in,” left our first mate’s mouth, I was dumbfounded.  I couldn’t believe that the goal I had set for myself six months prior was finally a reality. 

It’s great to be a member of this club.  I can be a mentor to my fellow crew mates and teach them about the ship.  It’s also nice to have the professional crew look at me knowing I understand the ship inside and out.  Plus, I get a cool tee-shirt.