Douglas Newbill While most local high school students have been playing video games and going to movies like "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" this summer, 15year-old Douglas Newbill spent two weeks last month sailing 2,100 nautical miles in the Pacific Ocean.

An incoming sophomore at Royal High School,Douglas took a voyage to Hawaii aboard the tall ship Lynx, based out of Newport Beach.The ship left on June 17 and arrived in Hawaii on July 3.

He was aboard the Lynx, a replica of an actual privateer ship from 1812, with a professional crew of eight, including captain, mate, boatswain, deck hands and cook.

He and a few other students participated as crew members in all activities, including ocean watches, steering, navigation and galley duty.The students sometimes plotted the course, taking turns steering the ship at the helm.

"It's the first time I've done something like that," Douglas said. "The thought of being on the ocean, learning how to run the ship, thinking that it would be really cool got me to go," he said.

Douglas said he never actually felt like he was in danger onboard.

"We had some rough weather sometimes but nothing terrifying," he said.

About halfway through the trip, the kids had a swim party, and everyone dressed up in whatever they could find.They were allowed to swing from a line on the yardarm out over the water and drop in.

The students had an hour of class every day, learning about the history of the ship and about Hawaiian culture and how to navigate the ocean.

"We had to wake up at midnight or 4 a.m. some days and stand watch," Douglas said. "There always had to be a watch on deck to make sure everything is alright." Each shift lasted four hours.

The Lynx Sail Training program, is presented as a "fully developed educational program designed to challenge youth and bring them together as a united crew stressing the importance of teamwork and cooperation."

By the end of the trip, the teenagers were carrying out all of the duties of the eight adult sailors.

Memorable incidents on the trip included a couple of days when flying fish were jumping on deck.

"One landed in the galley and another actually hit someone in the head," Douglas said. Despite a bout with seasickness, Douglas said he will sail again and recommends the trip to anyone interested in learning the fine points of sailing.

"It was an amazing experience," he said. "It's pretty much a once-ina-lifetime thing. You really won't look at sailors the same again. You'll have an appreciation for them."