One of the most anticipated traditions during Summer Sea Term is the Sinbad Games, Cal Poly Maritime Academy's version of the “Olympics at sea.” Held aboard Training Ship Golden Bear, the games are much more than a day of competition. They are a celebration of teamwork, resilience and the friendships built during weeks of living and working together at sea.

The Sinbad Games usually take place during the return transit, often around the time of the ship’s Equator Crossing and Golden Shellback festivities. By this stage of Summer Sea Term, cadets have spent weeks learning the rhythm of shipboard life, standing watch, completing maintenance and adapting to the demands of being underway. The games become a moment to step away from routine, let loose and recognize how much we've grown, not just as cadets, but as a crew.

Divisions traded uniforms for custom shirts, costumes and team colors, bringing a whole new energy to the ship. What made the day so memorable wasn’t just the competition itself, but the way everyone came together. Each event demanded communication, problem-solving and trust. Those qualities are essential both in the games and in the maritime industry.

The events included crowd favorites like the Push-Up Off, a head-to-head endurance contest to see who could complete the most push-ups with proper form; the Hunt for King Neptune and the Golden Idol, a shipwide scavenger hunt featuring clues, challenges and maritime-themed puzzles; and the Triathlon, a fitness challenge combining endurance, speed and agility through shipboard physical events. 

Cadets also competed in the Boiler Suit Hydro Test, a relay race featuring water-based challenges while wearing a boiler suit; Plumber’s Nightmare, a team challenge to move water through a makeshift piping system with minimal spills; and the Hawser Toss, a seamanship competition testing accuracy by throwing a heavy line at a designated target. Every event challenged cadets in different ways, but each required teamwork, determination and plenty of division spirit.

At the end of the day, 3E claimed first place with 45 points, earning bragging rights and the privilege of being the first division to disembark at the conclusion of Summer Sea Term. 2D followed in second place with 29 points, with 1D close behind in third with 26 points. Rounding out the standings were 1E in fourth with 24 points, 3D in fifth with 21 points, 4E in sixth with 19 points, 2E in seventh with 15 points and 4D in eighth with 13 points. While the scoreboard crowned a winner, the energy throughout the day made it clear that every division brought its own enthusiasm, teamwork and determination to the competition.

From my perspective, the Sinbad Games were one of the clearest examples of how Summer Sea Term transforms a group of cadets into a functioning team. Throughout the voyage, deck and engine cadets spend long days learning their respective trades, but the games reminded us that success at sea is never individual. It depends on everyone working together. Whether someone was competing, cheering from the sidelines or helping organize the event, every person contributed to the atmosphere and excitement of the day.

"The Sinbad Games were great. A fun day to sleep in, hang out with friends and enjoy some friendly competition." 
— Cadet Jack Privatsky, Marine Transportation

For many cadets, the best part of the Sinbad Games wasn’t simply trying to win first place, but the camaraderie that came with it. The laughter, encouragement and division pride made it a highlight of the return transit and a memory that will stay with us long after the voyage ends.

The Sinbad Games are a reminder that maritime training is about more than technical skills. It is also about building trust, supporting one another and learning how to operate as a crew. Out here, those lessons matter just as much as anything learned in the classroom or on watch. By the end of the games, it felt less like a collection of separate divisions and more like what Summer Sea Term is meant to create: one crew working together toward a common goal.

Fair winds and calm seas ...

Check back often and follow the voyage with our series that gives the latest news from Summer Sea Term! TSGB will travel to San Diego; Papeete, Tahiti; Suva, Fiji; Honolulu; and Los Angeles prior to returning to Vallejo on July 6.