An ocean voyage opens new horizons for two young people and forges friendships across the seas
- Lori Ann Reinhall
- Nov 17, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 30, 2025
When the unexpected leads to something extraordinary
When Davyn Waters decided to take up his mother’s offer to use her ticket to a gala dinner at Seattle’s Leif Erikson Hall to celebrate the Norwegian-American bicentennial “Crossings,” he thought it would be a good way to better connect with his heritage — but little did he know that it would take him on a life-changing ocean voyage. Soon Isabel Bartholomew was also on board, as the two young people acted as people-to-people ambassadors for the Norwegian-American community and the City of Seattle.
The celebration of “Crossings,” the commemoration of 200 years of organized Norwegian immigration to North America, at Leif Erikson Hall in Seattle on Oct. 9 was an event filled with magical moments. From a Norwegian aquavit toast to a full-course gourmet dinner, from a cow call to a modern-day Hardanger fiddle ensemble, from historical trivia to inspiring speeches, the evening was filled with fun and excitement.
Then, suddenly, a spontaneous initiative was undertaken to fund a youth passage on a historic tall ship that had come to Seattle from Bergen, Norway.
Guests learned that the 111-year-old Statsraad Lehmkuhl would be docking at Pier 66 as part of One Ocean Week Seattle, sponsored by Washington Maritime Blue. Founder and President/CEO Joshua Berger was there to talk about it and invite community members to sail with it on an eight-day voyage to San Francisco.
It sounded like an amazing opportunity to Davyn Waters, a Ballard native and recent graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. When Davyn decided to take up his mother’s offer to let him use her ticket to the gala dinner, he thought it would be a good way to connect with his Norwegian heritage — but little did he know that it would take him on a life-changing journey.
Brian Westerman of the Norwegian Commercial Club (NCC) was tending bar that night, and the two of them got to talking about the upcoming voyage. Recently out of school and still searching for regular employment, Davyn had the time to go but he didn’t have the money. But Westerman didn’t think that this should stop him. Why not start making it happen then and there?
Enter Otto Loggers of BLU Ideas LLC, and things took off. The two started collecting funds at the back of the room and then took it to the head table at the front of the room with Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss. He asked the organizers if they could raise the paddle for Davyn, and just like that, Strauss made his debut as spontaneous live auctioneer. Davyn was on his way.
But why stop there when there was more space available on the ship? A few days later, Otto decided that a young woman should also be part of the adventure. The NCC and SBSCA agreed, and the search for a second candidate took off. A natural choice emerged with Isabel Bartholomew, an active member of the Leif Erikson Lodge, where she serves as publicity manager, and she was equally as enthusiastic as Davyn.
Preparing to set sail
It had all happened so fast; the two sailors only had a few days to get ready for their trip. They needed to understand that it takes a certain mindset to undertake this type of voyage. Fortunately, Otto was there to help. He built other key activities into the sponsorship package, including attendance at the Nordic Innovation Summit, a breakfast welcome reception for the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, and other sessions at One Ocean Week.
An unexpected highlight was an impromptu party at the Pacific Fishermen Shipyard in Ballard at the end of the week, where Davyn and Isabel interacted directly with Councilmember Strauss and Marit Warncke, mayor of Bergen, Jon Askeland, county mayor of Vestland, and crew members from the Statsraad Lehmkuhl.
Later, the two sailors reflected on why they wanted to go on the ocean voyage and what made them good candidates for the adventure.
Davyn said he was interested in the history of the tall ship and the significance of its coming to Seattle. He was also intrigued by the science for marine conservation that would take place on the ship.
“It makes you realize how connected we all are,” he said, “We are connected by one ocean.” He is intellectually curious and physically fit, and he felt he could contribute as a crew member. He was particularly inspired by Nordic Innovation Summit keynote speaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, the first Norwegian astronaut to travel into space. Hers was a story about following a dream with commitment and tenacity, daring to do something different — which was exactly what the One Ocean Expedition was for him.
Isabel felt the same way. With virtually no sailing experience, it was a journey into the unknown. Nonetheless, she was bringing her skills as a blogger and photographer to the trip, along with her willingness to learn something new. At the on-board sessions, she learned about the challenges the oceans face today, and she would learn about how research is done on an ocean-going vessel. She was also interested in her heritage and was looking forward to connecting with the crew from Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
With about a week to prepare for the trip, they had no time to waste. Fortunately, they got a complete packing list from One Ocean Week to prepare them for all kinds of wind and weather. In addition, they got information and support from Washington Maritime Blue team members, BLU Ideas LLC, SBSCA, and NCC.
It was a beautiful sunny day when the ship was ready to set sail from Seattle’s Pier 66 on Oct. 27. Davyn and Isabel waved goodbye to friends and sponsors who had come to see them off, and they were on their way.
Life at sea
Traveling on a tall ship brings both joys and challenges. As Davyn and Isabel soon learned, sailing through the choppy waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the end of October does not always make for smooth sailing. Most of the crew suffered seasickness, some more than others; Isabel was one of the unlucky ones.
But the ship’s crew was prepared to weather the storms with medicine and special patches to counteract the nausea. They also had the old ways of doing things. Davyn and Isabel learned that it helped to go on deck and focus their eyes on the horizon — and it seemed to work.
The two sailors also learned that sleeping in hammocks can be comfortable and help reduce seasickness. Hammocks move with the ship’s roll, keeping sleepers balanced and preventing them from being thrown out of bed.
As crew members, Davyn and Isabel were assigned to a watch, two four-hour shifts, one in the morning and one in the evening. It worked well with their sleeping schedules. Alongside the professional crew, they gained practical seafaring skills (sails, helm, lookout, knots) and what it means to be part of a team, where everyone depends on each other.
Both admitted to being a little scared at first, especially when it came to heights, but, in Davyn’s words, “The journey is about pushing yourself, both physically and mentally.” The journey is about resilience and growth.
Circumventing the globe for a year, the Statsraad Lehmkuhl is part of the One Ocean Expedition, serving as a teaching vessel.
Guest sailors can learn about the challenges our oceans face today and actively assist with research projects. Among other things, a writing room has been turned into a laboratory, as scientists on board collect water samples and conduct research. Davyn and Isabel were particularly interested in Washington Maritime Blue’s efforts to learn about the effect of underwater sound on orcas.
Friendship, food, and musical fun
Davyn and Isabel enjoyed the great camaraderie that grew on board the ship, with everyone pulling together and forming bonds of trust, friendship, and mutual support.
The two Seattle sailors interacted with people from different countries and walks of life, developing mutual respect and understanding.
“I plan to keep in touch with them all,” Davyn said. Both he and Isabel hope to someday travel to the ship’s home port, Bergen, to reconnect with friends there.
They ate what they described as “exceptional food.” Serving meals for 90 people each day, the kitchen crew was at work from dawn to dusk. They served hearty Norwegian breakfasts with freshly baked bread, bacon and eggs, cheese and cold cuts, and lots of coffee.
Lunch was equally substantial with abundant servings of pasta, salad, and cooked vegetables. Salmon was popular, as was steak and meatballs. And they offered sweets to enjoy in the afternoon, including a cake that appeared for Davyn’s birthday that week on board.
And what better way is there to bond across borders than with music, the universal language? Otto encouraged Davyn to take along his guitar and harmonica, and everyone was glad that he did. They had jam sessions above and below deck. The Seattle musician expanded his repertoire with a retired New York police officer who was an outstanding guitarist. “He seemed to know any song you could name,” said Davyn.
And, as custom is, the crew members learned a few traditional sea shanties from the ship’s captain. “A singing ship is a happy ship,” as the old saying goes. An official songbook was available to purchase, which has made its way back to Seattle with Isabel.
The journey continues
And the journey continues. Back home again, the two Seattle sailors have started making the lecture circuit around the Pacific Northwest, starting with their presentation “From Seattle to San Francisco: A Voyage to Remember” at the Norwegian Commercial Club’s Nov. 13 members’ meeting. They spoke enthusiastically and shared photos and videos from the trip.
“The experience of the ocean itself was awe-inspiring,” said Isabel. “One day, we saw a pod of dolphins swimming alongside the ship. They guided us along for hours.”
“Out on the open sea, you see the ocean from an entirely different perspective,” Davyn added.
When asked whether they would like to join the One Ocean Expedition in the future, neither hesitated to fire back a resounding “yes!” The two seemed to enjoy just about everything about the trip, even polishing the brass for their arrival in San Francisco.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” said Davyn, and Isabel nodded in agreement.
On Nov. 30, the campaign to fund Davyn and Isabel's journey closed with 100% of the funds needed place. The SBSCA and NCC thank the generous donors who made this important people-to-people mission possible.
