In an effort to reduce stress and familiarize students with the waterfront, Campus Rec hosts a Sunset Sail three or four times a semester. Students can register online. Iris Pugh | The Crow’s Nest
By Iris Pugh
As the sun lowers onto the horizon and sinks into the bay, hues of gold, soft blue and magenta dance above students’ heads with brilliant displays in the sky. The evening is quiet, and pressure and stress seem to drift away as students gaze into the sunset.
About three or four times a semester, Daniel Marshall, coordinator of adventure and aquatics, invites about 10 students on a university-organized sail during sunset on the bay of downtown St. Petersburg.
The sailboat is a 37-foot-long and 11-foot-wide beauty named “The Wanderer.” It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fully functioning kitchen. Surrounding the steering wheel of the boat are two sofas with pillows, perfect for lounging and enjoying the humid, salty air.
There is plenty of space to relax and get comfortable. Marshall allows students to climb onto the front of the boat toward the bow for what he calls “the best view.” There, the shifting clouds and advancing sun are mesmerizing.
“I would always encourage students to sign up for our sunset sails,” Marshall said. “At the very least it’s a relaxing way to end your day, but it can also be an introduction to the waterfront, boathouse, sailing, and all of our other adventure trips. Also, its free.”
The day before setting sail, Marshall sends an email to the registered students with the meeting time, location and suggested items to bring aboard.
The group gathers at the Boathouse, next to the Campus Recreation office and Coquina building.
The sail is two hours out of Bayboro Harbor into Tampa Bay. Students may sit where they please, but if they choose to stand or move on the boat, they must do so cautiously and safely, while keeping both feet on the ground and at least one hand holding onto a stable surface.
The vessel only moves at about 2 mph, and the quickest speed it’ll ever reach is 7 mph, so falling accidents aren’t likely – but who wants to take that risk? The majority of students are sitting down during the boat ride, enjoying peaceful bliss.
“The experience was stunning,” said Katharine Pierce, sophomore health sciences major. Pierce was one of the students on the Sept. 11 sail.
“I got to see the city of St. Petersburg in a different light. Specifically, the sunset light. It was awesome. The staff were all very friendly and were able to take on my friend and I pretty much last minute,”she said.
According to Marshall, the scheduled sails didn’t reach full capacity in previous years.
This year, spots on the boat are taken a little more quickly and eventually reach capacity.
“People should sign up for it because it is a great way to take advantage of our school’s proximity to the bay, along with all of the water activities the Boathouse offers,” Pierce said.
Registering for the Sunset Sail can be done online. Visit the USF St. Petersburg recreation website and click on the tab “register for adventure.”
The next Sunset Sail is Oct. 9. All Sunset Sails are on Tuesdays.
