Love
SAILING ALONE AROUND MY GENDER
BY: ARWEN AILBHE
Arwen discusses what it’s like to be a trans-woman in the sailing world, intersecting the theme of love for self, water, marriage, and community.
I am forty-seven, a retired Navy Chief, and divorced from my first marriage. I just remarried this past April, having met the love of my life about four and a half years ago. I am a transgender woman, in a same sex marriage.
This is my first season cruising full time with my partner and I have found that we argue a lot on the boat. We argue about big things and stupid things. I feel like I can’t get away from his bad moods. I love him a lot, I have always dreamed of cruising, but I am starting to hate sailing because of this and question our relationship. Can you help?
Have you seen that meme that says, “I’m sorry for what I said when we were docking?” I’ve lived that out more times than I would like to admit. Cruising couples are a unique breed, with potential for extraordinary bonding and teamwork, and disastrous emotional shipwrecks.
We took January off, but we didn’t want you to miss anything. Here are some of our favorite updates from December and January.
Sarah Scott, endeavoring to be the first black woman to sail solo around the world, discussed racism and colorism in the sport of sailing.
Natasha Lambert finished her journey crossing the Atlantic, becoming the first person with quadriplegic athetoid cerebral palsy to do so using the sip and puff method.
The Vendee Globe is wrapping up soon and Clarissa Vender became the fastest woman to sail solo around the world with her record breaking 87 days, 2 hours and 24 minutes. Pip Hare shared her first words at dock after persevering through many trials and tribulations this race. We are inspired by all six women who participated this year.
US Sailing had a panel on Adaptive Sailing you don’t want to miss.
American Sailing Association published two pieces by our very own Editor-in-Chief Jenn Harkness about sexism in the sport of sailing and issues of harassment and assault.
Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt became the first woman to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the US Navy.
Stacey Jackson talked about women in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race past and present.
Jasmine Harrison became the youngest woman at 21 to row solo across the Atlantic.
A Dad designs swimwear for transgender girls through love and inspiration of his daughter Rubie.
Where do fiberglass boats go when they die? A great write up about sustainability in boating.
Saving the Songs of South Korea’s Female Divers. Meet the elderly women who are teaching the music of the famed fisherwomen of Jeju Island.
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Women Who Sail member Elise Cope shared this post with our group. A hilarious thread followed, as well as amazing jewelry by Elise. Add your suggestions for nautical vocab on the comments section of this newsletter.
I love nautical vocab! I am working on a creative project and could use your help. What are some boaty phrases, terms and words that you find delightful, interesting, or uniquely nautical? I’ll go first: baggywrinkles!
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Have questions, upcoming events, news, or submissions? Contact our Editor-in-Chief: Jenn Harkness at skipperjennharkness@gmail.com.