Seven questions with Bart Blankenship:
Hometown: Palmetto, FL
With HIOBS since 2008
Why did you decide to work for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School?
I decided to work for HIOBS because I wanted to teach sailing in my home state of FL instead of working wilderness therapy courses in the winter in Utah. I was tired of cold dark winters. And I love sailing.
What is your role at HIOBS?
I’m a Watch Officer, but also an instructor on land courses sometimes.
What do you like best about working for HIOBS?
I like best the confidence that students get on course. They do get from point a to b.
What is your favorite or funniest HIOBS memory?
Favorite moment was two summers ago where we were anchored in the White Islands and the wind changed to be out of the north and blew in the 20’s and it’s a deep, narrow anchorage and now offered no protection and Kelsi and I had a crew of 14 year old boys who had been dropping the anchor watch and we were worried about dragging and winding up on the ledges. I called a feet in the cockpit and expressed our concern. We stuck the tarp so we could come to oars if we were dragging and put out a second anchor. We got little sleep, didn’t drag, but the experience brought the group together.
Choose one word or phrase to sum up HIOBS.
Self reliance.
When you are not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
When I’m not at work I write stories. I just published one in July, Blue Water Sailing on sailing my boat, “Revival” solo to the keys and back engineless. Otherwise, I SCUBA, sea kayak, rock climb, and spend time with my 3 kids.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I was in the Navy as a nuclear engineer before I switched to OB and co-authored the book, Earth Knack, Stone Age Skills for the 21st Century.