Mad Mariner Podcast: Interview with Kaci

Mad Mariner.com is a fantastic online magazine for boaters from circumnavigators to local building and racing scenes. This past week, the editor interviewed me for their Women in Sailing Podcast Series. As you'll hear in the interview, I see the industry's biggest opportunity to grow by strong focus on women! Our roles, skills, interests, indeed the increase in numbers of us who've gotten Captain's license, bought our own boats, and who are in charge of the household finances where big boating decisions are made are key to growing the market. While the current economy may make it more urgent, it's also simply good business for progressive companies who want to last through the boomer generation. More women own-her-ship.... think about it.

PTTV Interview with Kaci, March 2009

In her community leaders series, Karen Nelson of PTTV interviewed Kaci at the Cupola House. Her focus question was "Who influenced you?" Watch the video here. "

A Writing Life

I started writing as soon as I could hold a pencil. In first grade, a teacher gave me pictures from magazines and told me to write stories for extra credit. That option motivated me to convince all my teachers through fourth grade to let me write. When I started the annual strategy talk, my English teacher suggested that instead of extra credit I could enter writing competitions instead. For the rest of my public school career I entered contests (thank you English teachers!), then used the skills to get a scholarship to college, do graduate work and within job, after job, after job. Writing is more than a job, it's a life's work that all started with one teacher, free magazine pictures, a pencil and a grandma who would listen to those stories every day. Teachers and parents can start the fire, but it's up to each of us to keep it going!

Ideal First Mate or Co-Captain?

Are you the ideal First Mate, or do you have one? Is the Mate your husband, partner, dream, a friend? I recently exchanged emails with two women in very different circumstances and it reminded me of something Nancy posted on her website years ago. In fact it's still there, so I'm hoping she'll "post" here and give further comment. She wrote: "Kaci is an avid reader, published writer, diesel mechanic, tobasco connoisseur and somewhat irreverant Mate and Kaci loves sailing. She has single-handed Tethys between Malaysia and Thailand, holds her USCG 50-ton license, Ham radio license and absolutely does not dive! Her circumnavigation will be complete in Panama, but Nancy's "ideal first mate" will continue to teach aboard Tethys all the way home to Seattle, 2001." I'm sure I did not fit the description some of the guys I know would like to see in a First Mate, nor would I come anywhere close to ideal with the irreverant part, surely! As women, what are your ideals regarding either having or being a First Mate? One of the two women writing has had a partner/husband who is the First Mate. Her boat, 4th Chakra, is pictured here with her at the helm. The other woman is mostly a singlehander, now in the western Pacific, would very much love to have a companion onboard, both for safety and whatever else. Both these women are experienced women captains, boat owners and expressed an interest in exploring this topic with other women. What do you think about "The Ideal First Mate" as a topic for a day and half SailAway Seminar in Port Townsend? The ideal First Mate will also conjure up issues for the Ideal Captain as well. Post suggestions for or about any topics you'd like to see offered at a SailAway Seminar this next year. Check back to the website or email if you'd like to receive news of what, when and how much for the 2006

Mighty Mary & John, Pacific Seacraft duo

There's nothing like dragging anchor in ultra remote Chagos, Christmas in European/NorthAmerican eclectic ways under palm trees in San Blas or the passage from Madagascar to South Africa to build life-long friendships. While I've stayed in touch with many former cruising friends, it's always nice to hear from more and to connect more often. Mary McCollum and now, husband, John Hicks are two such friends (photo taken July 05). I first met Mary when she was singlehanding Mighty Merry Too, her Pacific Seacraft 24'. I had just crossed the Tasman from Australia to New Zealand and was in the early stages of a research study documenting stories of women sailors. She had been caught by a nasty blow off the coast of NZ prior to our arrival and was recuperating from a broken back. John was on another Pacific Seacraft, also singlehanding. Years later, I saw them again, this time together, sailing on the larger of their two boats, renamed Duet. From meeting in New Zealand in 1993, we met again in South Africa and now, they live ashore in Port Townsend, less than 5 blocks from me. Other cruisers I've heard from recently are Paula & Vigo on Marijke, Silvija & Egon on Magnum Bonum, Peter & Carda on Shemali Blue, Mary & Rick on Tranquility, Tricia & Art on Cynosure and Thalia & Bob on Renaissance. They are in Alaska, Sweden, England, Rhode Island, Florida and Maryland respectively. Small world? Yes, thankfully.