A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ON GRIEF & LOSS
By Jenn Harkness
2020 has been hard. Everyone has experienced loss in one way or another…Each of the voices you will read are vulnerable, unique, and relatable touchpoints of shared humanity.
Parting from her usual column Dear Skipper Jenn, we hear why our Editor-in-Chief chose the theme of Grief and Loss for December. As a mental health therapist, she also gives us some additional resources and framework for grief.
LOVE IS WHAT REMAINS
By Cidnie Carroll
Many know Cidnie as one of the original moderators and leaders of Women Who Sail. In this piece she shares about what she has learned from the loss of her daughter, Kitty, and what she has to offer from her “master class in grief.”
I have never heard a more true statement than, "grief is the price of love.” We do not mourn what we have not loved, deeply and intensely.
BROKEN ALBATROSS PROMISES
By Roxanne Darrow
Roxanne gives us a taste of her journey of self empowerment and her exploration of the unknown as she hitchhiked across the Pacific from California to New Zealand. She also explores the toll that has taken with loving her family from a distance, especially in a pandemic.
But I didn’t know that this separation turns the family song volume down. Our rhythm becomes fainter even as awareness of my own heart beat grows.
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
By Wendy Hinman
Wendy shares what it was like to come home to Seattle after a seven year, 34,000 mile voyage of the Pacific. She beautifully illustrates how life transitions and changes can shake us up, spiral us down, and teach us how to float through uncertainty.
It was a dark time for me. Landlocked, I felt trapped. I spent long days in despair, sometimes barely able to get out of bed.
CHRISTMAS DISASTER IN PUERTO RICO
By Liesbet Collaert
In this modified excerpt from her new book Plunge, Liesbet captures the shock and heartbreak of sudden loss of a pet and how love transcends species.
For the first time on this sailing adventure, we wish we lived in a house. We push away the thought of leaving her behind. This can’t happen to our girl.
Marie Rogers was awarded the prestigious Peggy Slater Memorial Award by the Southern California Yachting Association for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the sport of sailing.
Samantha Davies retired from the Vendee Globe in the Southern Ocean after hitting something while going 15-22kts causing structural damage to her boat.
For the first time ever, there will be a sailing mixed two person offshore event at the Olympics in Paris 2024.
Alta Jones was awarded Petty Officer 1st class in Ketchikan, Alaska by the US Coast Guard.
Canada’s first Indigenous coast guard auxiliary was launched in British Columbia.
Danielle Obe in London has created waterproof head scarves for black women who love to swim.
Piper Anderson wrote a great piece on sailing solo and the grief that can come with it in Catapult.
READINGS ON GRIEF AND LOSS
By Janna Cawrse Esarey
Books buoy us. They lift us up, give us direction, and teach us where to go and how to get there. Check out Janna's recommendations on grief and loss.
Women Who Sail is a closed Facebook group. Read our group guidelines and if you are a fit, request to join! Content from the group is always shared with permission.
Women Who Sail member Linda-Beth Juchli shared this post with our group.
There have been days were belonging to this group has made me jealous and sad. You see, I am a critical care nurse and in the midst of this second wave on the pacific coast. Wintertime anxiety rises-for everybody, but especially when I walk into a patients room who has COVID-19. I learn to breathe and accept. There are better days than others at work; the physical and mental exhaustion has been difficult and…it is only the beginning in this round.
I learn now to turn to this group for relief. To turn the days of pining for those who are now sailing from envy to eternal hope that it will be me one day...joining you all.
I have learned to open up OneNote and start cutting and pasting everybody’s fantastic lessons of cleaning, painting, and every suggestion or relevant boat fix so I am armed and ready to go when I can get to “her” again.
God bless you all...Thank you to you all for your educated answers and experiences. Such a phenomenal women force. You all rock!
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Have questions, upcoming events, news, or submissions? Contact our Editor-in-Chief: Jenn Harkness at skipperjennharkness@gmail.com.