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The Bowsprit: Editorial
The bowsprit
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From the editor
Knockdowns and lockdowns
Welcome to the March/April issue of SisterShip Magazine.
If life was an old nautical chart, I imagine we’d currently be in the region marked ‘here there be dragons’. Somewhat less romantically, our location on a modern chart would probably read ‘area not surveyed’. Navigating life during the current pandemic certainly seems akin to winding a safe passage through a myriad of razor sharp coral bommies, or perhaps on some days more like drifting with flogging sails through the doldrums.
Most, if not all, of us are now in lockdown of some kind, our boats tugging impatiently at their mooring lines. We know it’s for good reason, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say the thought of being kept off the water wasn’t filling me with sadness.
The current restrictions led me to realise just how often I turn to the beach or ocean in times of sadness or worry. Many of the most significant times of my life have been spent on the water. Steph worked on dive boats and islands on the Great Barrier Reef. During her short sharp battle with cancer I sent her daily photos of the sea and dolphins. We hoped that the radiation would buy her a little more time, enough to get back out on the waves again even briefly. It wasn’t to be. It was to the ocean I turned, unable to attend her funeral, to say an emotional farewell to her in true yachtie fashion, accompanied by Jimmy Buffet (not in person unfortunately)… and dolphins. She would have approved.
Losing Steph has knocked the wind from my sails, and we dedicate this issue to her.
Moving on, under jury rig... the fifth annual Women Who Sail Australia Gathering on the Bay, a highlight on the nautical calendar for many of us, suffered a figurative knockdown earlier this month. For obvious reasons, the event was cancelled. However, the event’s major sponsor, Topsail Insurance, generously sponsored this issue of SisterShip Magazine, making it free not only to the event’s attendees but to everyone!
Who in their right mind, about to turn fifty and having never raced in a regatta in their life, would sign up to be half of a doublehanded crew in one of the most gruelling ocean races in Australia? Jackie Parry of course! You can read Jackie’s brutally honest, and humourous, account on Page 12.
At this stage, South African sailor Kirsten Neuschäfer is the only woman entrant in the 2022 Golden Globe Race. Carolina Deseta chatted to Kirsten about her preparations for the race. No prizes for guessing who SisterShip will be cheering on!
Award winning author Helene Young is also pretty handy with a camera and takes the helm of our regular photo essay this month, heading south to spectacular Maria Island, Tasmania.
Sustainable sailing, coping with winter aboard a barge boat in Europe, wildlife encounters during a tropical summer on the Great
In memory of Steph 1965-2020.
Barrier Reef, delicious and healthy food from the galley, and women HF radio operators, are just some of the stories our team has for you in this issue. We hope you enjoy.
Stay safe, be kind (to yourselves and each other), and, as always, look for the dolphin...
