The Hampden-Sydney Office of Global Education is one of many campus resources that helps Hampden-Sydney students enjoy incredible opportunities designed to match their individual interests. Last semester, Watson pursued his interest in adventure by studying abroad with Sea |mester, where he made new friendships, explored exotic destinations, learned the art of seafaring, and gained a life-changing perspective.
The Sea|mester program offers students a unique and immersive academic experience, blending adventure with hands-on learning in a once-in-a-lifetime voyage. When Watson discovered the program, he turned to the Office of Global Education for guidance. Working closely with Director of Global Education Daniella Widdows, he navigated the preparation process to ensure a smooth semester-long adventure at sea.
“I must have met with Dr. Widdows at least five times last spring, sorting through all the necessary forms and ensuring that the agreement between Hampden-Sydney College and Sea|mester was finalized correctly,” Watson says. “Now, the agreement is in place for the next three years for anyone who may want to embark on this journey.”
Watson’s adventure began in August with a grand European tour alongside his family, setting the stage for an unforgettable semester. As he traveled across Europe, he had the opportunity to reunite with his host family from his 2019 high school study abroad experience in Rome. The visit brought back fond memories and served as the perfect way to reconnect with past adventures before setting sail on his next one.
Watson’s home for the semester was Vela, a 112-foot-long, 25-foot-wide, two-masted staysail schooner that boasted six sails and 4,700 square feet of sail area. Commissioned in 2020, Vela offered a state-of-the-art living and learning experience. Watson embarked on this journey with 24 other students and seven staff members, most of whom were from the United States, along with several international students and staff from various parts of the world.
“I knew nobody going in, and it was special to get really close with everyone over the course of our time together,” Watson says. “Since we were together for 90 days, I was able to get to know everyone really well. It was a truly unique experience, and by far, it has been the greatest adventure I’ve had the chance to be a part of.”
Beginning in Civitavecchia, Italy, the group familiarized themselves with their vessels, mastered emergency procedures, and took a day trip to Rome to explore the Roman Forum and Colosseum. From there, they sailed to Sardinia—the Mediterranean's second-largest island—where they learned to dive, further enriching their trip experience.
“One of the best parts of Sea|mester is the combination of sailing, academics, and diving,” Watson says. “Many programs focus on just one or two, but few offer all three. We were fortunate to experience a great mix of them in Sardinia and many of the ports.”
Sea|mester's academic program blended classroom-style learning with hands-on activities. Throughout the semester, Watson took courses in marine biology—often incorporating scuba diving—along with oceanography, leadership, and nautical science. His nautical science studies included mastering knot-tying, vessel navigation, watch rhythms, sail handling, and more. While at sea, lessons took place in Vela’s large common room, known as the salon. When docked at port, academic instruction was scheduled around group activities such as hiking or sightseeing, making for an immersive and dynamic educational experience.
In addition to hands-on learning, students were responsible for keeping Vela clean and running smoothly. Students used a chore wheel to rotate tasks such as dish duty, cooking, deck cleaning, and serving as the student skipper. Each student had the opportunity to take on the role of student skipper, responsible for outlining the day's plan while at port and keeping everyone informed. While at sea, all the students took turns standing watch. Over a 12-hour period, three teams of eight students, along with two staff members, rotated through four-hour shifts overnight, helping them acclimate to both the vessel and life at sea.
Standing watch proved invaluable as the group encountered challenging conditions while navigating the Mediterranean. Watson recalls that sailing was difficult, largely due to the lack of consistent winds. Slowly but surely, Vela made her way from Sardinia to Elba, an Italian island, and then to Porto Venere, a small coastal town in Italy. It was near Porto Venere that Watson hiked and explored the vineyards of Cinque Terre—Watson's favorite onshore experience of the program.
After Cinque Terre, they continued to Tarragona, Spain, where they visited the ruins of a Roman amphitheater before making their way to Barcelona, Spain, to witness the 2024 Louis Vuitton Cup Final, the sailing competition that determines the challenger for the America’s Cup.
“These boats are incredibly fast and modern,” Watson says. “It was surreal to watch, especially after spending so much time on a sailboat myself.”
As they continued south, the group arrived at the Port de Pollença, one of five ports in the Balearic Islands, before traveling to Almería, Spain. From there, they took a day trip to Granada to explore the Alhambra and the Catedral de Granada. Next, they made their way to Gibraltar, where they visited the Rock of Gibraltar and the World War II tunnels, spending extra time there due to challenging weather conditions, before eventually setting sail for Morocco.
“Traveling to Essaouira, Morocco, was an unforgettable experience,” Watson says. “Over two days, we went sandboarding, rode camels, and surfed. The sand dunes were enormous, and I even caught my first wave in Morocco—something I never imagined I’d do.”
Continuing along the coast of Morocco, the group sailed to the Port of Agadir, spending a few days there before traveling to Marrakesh, Morocco, a large inland city with a rich medieval trading history. After exploring some Moroccan street markets, the group spent a night off the boat, where Watson had been sharing a cabin with five other students, staying in a yurt in the desert outside the city. From there, they set sail for Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where they explored more diving and hiking opportunities before they made final preparations for the voyage’s main event: crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
“This part of the trip was thousands of miles and kept us at sea for 23 straight days, with some big swells rolling in from the Canary Islands, but I thought it was a lot of fun,” Watson says. “It was our captain’s last time leading this particular journey, and toward the end, the wind wasn’t cooperating. We had the option to cut the trip short by two days, but he was determined to sail, which I really appreciated. There’s something magical about relying solely on the wind to carry us forward.”
Watson noted the Atlantic crossing was his favorite sailing portion of the trip–sailing nearly 3,000 nautical miles on the crossing alone.
The trans-Atlantic adventure came to a close when Vela dropped anchor in Saint Lucia. There, the group participated in more diving and a wonderful Caribbean swimming experience. From St. Lucia, they sailed to Les Saintes before continuing to Guadeloupe and Antigua, where everyone gave Vela a thorough final cleaning and an emotional goodbye.
Watson’s experience highlights the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and embracing new challenges. Adventures like these not only deepen cultural understanding but also foster lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. From navigating the open sea to exploring historic cities and becoming a certified diver, every moment shaped his journey in a meaningful way.
“If there is one thing that Sea|mester has taught me, it is to go do what sounds exciting,” Watson reflects. “Seize the moment and opportunity and live without fear. Few things in life are greater than the unexpected.”