After my first bluewater crossing from California to Hawaii, people thought that it was really cool that I had just got the sailing bug and got on a boat.
When I made the return journey, which can be a tricky passage, suddenly sailors in San Francisco started to take me seriously, like ‘OK, you did this, a lot of people ship their boats back to avoid making this crossing.’ By the time I left on a solo circumnavigation three years ago, in Windfola, a 1985 Sabre 34 mark I, women especially were telling me that I was inspiring to them.
I was a bit resistant to it at first, like I can’t imagine anybody thinking I’m a role model. I’m just a normal person, I make mistakes out there, I’m scared all the time, and I get seasick.
But after crossing the Pacific, on making landfall in French Polynesia, I had dinner with a family I’d met on a cruising net. At the end, the mum said: ‘Let’s take a picture, we’ve been waiting to meet you, Elana.’ Their daughter, who was maybe eight, asked why and the mum said: ‘Well you know that crossing we just did, with your dad and brother? She did it alone with her little dog.’ The little girl looked at me and she said: ‘But who was your captain?’
It made me feel like maybe there is room for more female role models who are just learning things and who break stuff. I’d like to demystify the idea that you need to have grown up your whole life fixing boats to take care of a boat.
Denne historien er fra September 2021-utgaven av Yachting Monthly.
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Denne historien er fra September 2021-utgaven av Yachting Monthly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
I WAS THE ONLY SAILOR ON OUR FAMILY CHARTER AND IT HAD TO GO WELL
Crystal waters, cliff tombs and sunken outboards lain Willis wanted to ensure plain sailing for his family’s first charter around Turkey's Lycian Coast
HOW IT WORKS SEAWATER PUMP
The water and oil seals on a water pump shaft will eventually wear with time, leading to pump-shaft corrosion or loss of engine oil.
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THE ADVENT OF MARINE AI TECHNOLOGY
Fonathon Savill reports on the revolutionary impact artificial intelligence is about to have on all areas of life at sea
IMPROVING SINGLE-LINE REEFING
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CRUISING THE KINGDOM OF THE ISLES
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MOODY DS48
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