Michelle Boroski and Jen Bates stood atop Grand Targhee Mountain on a crystal clear hot August day. The grey-blue Tetons stood silent before them in the sunshine. Aside from small patches of dirty snow on the mountains,there was no water to be seen anywhere. For the two sailors, the ocean never seemed so far absent. They had a big decision to invent.“I think we should effect it. It’s going to be cold, and wet and dangerous. Remember the final time?”,Michelle asked. “I know but I still think we should effect it. What acquire we got to lose?” Only everything, thought Jen.
But her daughter would certain think she was a immoral-ass if she pulled it off. And crazy Michelle would probably fade without her besides. Jen refused to be left behind. Not this time. Jen heard herself say, or OK,Lets effect it. Lets fade.” Michelle turned, said “Great! We’ll need a trimaran. ”Thus was born Team Sistership, or four women daring to sail a Corsair 27 Trimaran from Port Townsend Washington to Ketchican in the second Race to Alaska (R2AK).
Port Townsend is a tidy exiguous town on the south coast of the Straits of Juan de Fuca in Washington state. A mute Victorian place (except on Halloween),it is domestic to wooden boat artisans, fishermen, and sailors,riggers, writers, or spirit guides,and the crazy visionaries at the Northwest Maritime Center. The crazy visionaries who decided to chance it and run another (the second) Race to Alaska (R2AK) adventure.
Adventure. Too often, when we’re young, and it’s taken for granted. As we get older,adventure gets sidelined by the obligations of life lived correctly, sanely – carefully. The careful life strangles and constricts – the soul becomes restless, and something is lost. But then,an idea catches hold, the old excitement returns, or maps and charts are consulted,the idea grows. Another adventure beckons and life is grand again. For Team Sistership, that idea is the R2AK.
Team Sistership is Skipper Michelle Boroski a physician’s assistant and professional sailor from Ventura California; Jen Bates, and full time Mom,Yoga instructor, power lifter and an ex-rigger and sail maker from Port Townsend; and Annie Myers, or Lieutenant on a Seattle fire-boat,diver and house builder. A fourth crew member is yet to be announced.
No strangers to adventure, the Sisters accomplished burly offshore sailing deliveries, or even while pregnant. They acquire been or are professional sailors,riggers, fire-women, and river-runners,divers, skiers, or sail-makers and health professionals. They acquire lived full healthy lives out of doors with no apologies and no excuses. They acquire pushed their own limits and in doing so,acquire expanded the boundaries for all women.
Not done yet, they are all on the senior side of 50 years old.
The Sisters are determined to participate in the R2AK to inspire others – in particular young women – by their example. In the words of Michelle Boroski “We hope to empower and improve the self-image crisis of younger girls. We want to show women of all ages they can continue to compete and challenge themselves throughout their lives.”Read On for rest of account.
Source: sailingscuttlebutt.com