Inspired Insanity

Oct 22, Visit NY, then to Palm Beach

Donna — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:02:34 GMT

1408EST 1908UTC 0708NZTues
Monday Hugs, October 22,2007 xoxo
Hey all!!
I have been updating the home page but not getting to the log... And words do come in handy. A bit of narration. Yes, much is happening. Transition is moving along. Leaving again... You know how hard that is for me.. New Zealand, Ushuaia, Ireland...it is always traumatic as I seem to get very close to people very fast. It has been glorious meeting so many that have followed our journey around the world in person. Catching up with great old friends as Rhode Island has become home base in the states so I do get to 'come back' and continue friendships made here. Davison has been an amazing supportive partner as I have forged new territories. I am not going to do a thank you letter here as inevitably I can't name all who have touched my life so deeply. I did get a letter to the editor into the East Bay Rhode Island papers. So much giving.
But the time has come for me to head south to Palm Beach FL to join SV_Sherry Lee as Skipper for Stu. Truth is, that Stu is once again facilitating dreams as he gives me a place and helps me hide away to begin to write. I am just so distractable.

There has been much going on as I am getting alot of projects off the ground. Alot is established and up and running. I have a bit of a handle on the website..I have contact with folks in many realms of furthering the cause of preservation, the critical thinking program I want to develop. I hope that it will allow folks to work on skills that help us make better decisions based on real information which I believe will help our country, our family, our lives to better balance and healthy living. When we see things as truly interconnected as they are, as stewards of all that we have for all people because we are all so interconnected, our decisions will start to create balance. Enough is enough.. balance creates peace and allows the happiness that is intrinsically ours to be our centering. When I get overwelmed, and I do so often, it is that knowing that I am really happy intrinsically that lets me ask honest questions of myself. What is hindering the expression of the true happiness that is mine?. As soon as I get quiet and stop, I sense that happiness. It is noise, striving, fear, worry that distracts me and steals so much energy I can't even enjoy the happiness I know is me.

This summer and fall, I have also had some rude awakenings and reality checks as I continued to research. I can not deny the plummeting stability of the 'America' I have believed in. Corporate egotism and feudal arrogance has boldly erroded our political checks and balances. It seems that we have handed over our rights to fear. Yet possibly what we should fear is not without...it is within our own systems that no longer care for sustainable health and the people. Just ensuring there will be a real election in 2008 will be a challenge more over bringing in the checks and balances that will break the historical cycles of money and power seeking injustice. We can make a difference. Keep on Caring..Live our own lives in balance as much as we can. Sustainable..

Believe me, I am talking to myself... I get tired as I haven't managed the intensity of all going on very well. But as time goes by and ideas mature, enthusiasm comes in waves, expectations become more realistic, I start to sift through life and priority. I have tried some things and I am finding my way. It has been a magical summer yet challenging as could be. Inspired Insanity will be staying In Bristol Marina for the winter. The refit took more than expected and I had alot of last minute committments come up, so she will be enduring the cold. BRRRR... I can't explain how hard it has been to make the decision to leave her behind... but it will be OK. We got her all buttoned up. Bristol Marina took care of the rig and has the engine.. we have some projects still in process, the head, bracket for an outboard, but Keel got the rest of the fiberglass work and covered all the holes in the cockpit. It was such a pleasure to have him there as I puttered away inside and packed stuff away. So come spring.. splash...

It has been a wonderful few weeks, great friends visiting from afar. Yes,Keel, my youngest son, just visited. WOW! he is amazing. Challenging himself to move forward. His photography skills are maturing as he keeps focused. We played some great jams. It is such a joy beyond words to have had him here, to hold him and have him hold me. His understanding is so genetic to me. Now I need to get to Cooper!!! I hope to see Kristy in the next days. Davison and I am heading west to NY for a few days with Ptarmi before heading south. She is due for her baby in December, and joy would have it that they just were able to buy a house. So it is going to be a crazy transition time for them amidst the baby baking.. Oh to be young. I can't wait to get there and lend a hand. But never enough time.

So, things will start to settle down I think. I am sure that it won't take too long in Palm Beach before I get some gigs happening.. but I will continue to keep updates happening. Actually, it will take a bit to finish sharing so much that has happened this summer and fall. I've got lots of photos trickling in....

Biggest Hugs xoxoxo d

"Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring... keeping centered in true happiness it is all good...somehow"

Celebrity Sailing Event

Donna — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:18:59 GMT

UTC 1451 0951MD 0951RI 0251nz

July 21, 2007 Saturday surprise hugs!!

Racing!! And with the best in the world!

I'm in Baltimore for a Celebrity sail event.. Crazy!!! but great! Should be interesting. It will be interesting to see if I have an aptitude to racing. All the other celebrity sailors are world class racers, some paralympic world class racers. There will also be Tv and sports personalities and a couple of local political figures. Beth Perry has done an incredible job putting the Benefit event together to promote the "Downtown Sailing Center for Accessible Boating Program", and the Paralympic Sailing Team, "Team Sailing for Life". It should be great fun, but I will be nervous. I already know that. I race 3 times over the day so hopefully I will get the hang of the race scene and feel more comfortable by the end of the day. I am more afraid of being too aggressive and hitting someone. Oh Well, we'll see. Beth Perry is amazing as the organizer of the event. It was because of a chance meeting at the Newport Yacht Club, when I went to join friends from Bermuda visiting for the start of the Bermuda-Newport Race, that I ran into Beth. Wildness! And here I am. The log at the end of the day should be interesting. She is going to have me sing "For the Love of Oceans" to start us off too. A couple of my CD's will be given as gifts which will give me a bit of extra publicity too. Beth is all about promoting sailors. If I do seem to have the knack for racing, who knows... maybe there will be a race ahead for me. Regardless I am determined to enjoy the events and not get too competitive. I would like to discover that racing is an option for me. All good!

I had a great time with my daughter and grandchildren, though it rained and poured, we also had some delightful bits of sunshine, walks along an incredibly beautiful whitewater river stretch, and exciting times at the Wild Center Adirondack Museum in Tupper Lake. Thank goodness for public Libraries. And we even did some do-see-does at a square dance!! Ptarmigan was the artist of 'finding a kid friendly' activity and we had lots of fun.

Thanks Jan and others for continuing to promote my cd's. Right now, amidst the transition to 'land life', building the foundation of YOuth4Oceans and For the Love of Oceans, those sales are keeping me going. I so appreciate your support. Opportunities to speak and share my dream are beginning to book. Music gigs are starting to fall into place. Thanks again all. We are beginning to look to book a fall concert in the NY Capital District area so I can catch up with so so many that have supported me along my journey from my original hometown around Burnt Hills NY. So be on the lookout, NYer's..

biggest hugs xooxoxoxo d

"Keepin On, Keepin On, Keepin On Caring...the small world is even smaller when the smile on your face is reflected back with momentum.."

Parade was Success!!!

Donna — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:40:02 GMT

0921 RI 1421UTC

July 5, 2007 HAPPY DAY AFTER the 4th!!!

Absolutely BRILLIANT, as spoken by the group of young British soccer players that gathered round last night at the pub to congratulate us for the parade, and for my sail around the world. The entire parade day was magic just as the preparation had been. Everything that could have gone right, did! We kicked Murphy into orbit. What fun. The THANK YOU's are enormous. I'll put them in order of when I met folks. Will Barbeau, the mastermind behind getting me invited to the parade. Who would have thought? Will Barbeau!!! Then it was Bill and Linda Knowles who first invited me to be able to arrive at the Herreshoff Museum Dock upon my completion of the circumnavigation. That was furthered by Will and the Museum celebration. To the Town of Bristol who graciously invited me to participate. Tom Brownell was the key man in making it happen when he volunteered his truck and trailer to haul Inspired Insanity around the streets of Bristol. Thank you Tom and Sharon. Then it was an old friend who had done the original painting of Inspired Insanity on the stern before I left to sail the world, Tom Weathers, who began the magic. He volunteered to paint "For the Love of Oceans" on the topsides of my boat. The magic surrounding my developing Youth4Oceans and For the Love of Oceans was begun by Jay Miller when he so amazingly offered to host me to Washington DC for Oceans Week. It began the momentum to create a grassroots advocacy project in America to augment my work with OceansWatch. Then it was Bill and Linda again, who offered my their home as a base to work from and gave of all their organizational talents and resources to get me off the ground. The Bristol Boat show was a kick off for Youth4Oceans!! Thanks Sean Sullivan and the harbor masters. Then whilst I was waiting at a bus stop in Barrington RI, on my way to meet Bermuda friends at the Newport Yacht Club, I got bored waiting. I wondered if I would get a lift if I hitch hiked in such an upscale town in RI. Lo and behold, Davison Bolster stopped and offered me a lift, restoring my faith in humanity as he opened his door. Davison has become a key component in facilitating For the Love of Oceans. He created logos for both For the Love of Oceans, Youth4Oceans and created the front banner design for the parade: Round the World For the Love of Oceans. The planning meeting was a great success. Ten days later, Tom and Porky (the driver for Tom) arrived at Bristol Marina, thanks Andy Tyska, to load Inspired Insanity. The creative process began. At every step everything we needed arrived, often before we knew what we needed it for. Kim Wetherald arrived with Manny Perry from Young Mariners. She jumped right in and asked what we needed. Well, she must have a huge garage as from it came huge bundles of blue tarps, all sorts of red,white and blue banners and flags, coolers, snacks for the parade day; more and more. Manny and his brother in law dreamed up a great solution to guards for the wheels, and constructed, from conduit, the rail that would end up supporting our overflowing water keeping it off the trailer wheels.. Tom Weathers was completing his masterpiece of For the Love of Oceans on the side of Inspired Insanity. Other young 'uns and parents came to help with the process, thanks Tye and your dad. Then the reality of the talent that stood around me set in as Davison began to paint and create life-like whales, dolphins, turtles, fish for the ocean. Gary Fish had found hundreds of feet of old fishing nets. Moment by moment, the float began to take shape. Then it was a visit by Tom and Sharon that re-directed our efforts, both for the safety of the truck but truly it set us on a better path. The water began to flow over the wheels, concealing them somehow, Tom Weathers found more energy and in his midnight hours began making banners, looking like old scrolls, all done absolutely professionally with vinyl, we were styling. Others offered help. Communication was a problem as I don't have a cell phone. Lots of people ended up trying to get involved but couldn't find us. Sierra Club was one of those, Lisa Allen too but somehow, amidst it all, the float came together magically. Herb Williams took on creating flag poles and found flags for us. The float became a rolling ocean, with a platform for me to sing on. Derek Escher would join me with mandolin and guitar. We worked out the sound system electric need by using a transformer off the cigarette lighter... miracles.

The day was approaching and I had a vision of writing a song, For the Love of Oceans. In a moment of energy 2 nights before the parade, the words came, a simple chord progression. When Derek and I got together that night to practice, the song was born. It worked..

The parade day was amazing as Tom, Sharon, their grandson, Porky and his wife and girls arrived at 6am., my mom and 2 brothers arrived ahead of us. The energy was gathering.. The first test was to get the float through town to the start without hitting any power lines. We had maxed every size limit with the float construction. 13.5' high and 10'wide. Will Barbeau met us at the start on his bicycle with camera in hand. Kids started arriving. T-shirts handed out. Snacks and drinks. Extra parents to go along side. Michelle and Jim. The kids, please forgive me if I miss a name: Ally, Stephen, Kate, Remmy, Tye, Geneva, Tye 2, Sarah, Charlotte, Teddy, and there were 2 more... sorry... but thanks so much all of you for being there, you were so so so awesome. They totally cooperated with our safety rules.

The parade was magic and it was televised. I sang For the love of Oceans all the way and stopped 2 times to sing America the Beautiful. We all had so so much fun and our message was heard!!!!

The response was phenomenal! Thank you Town of Bristol... all of our sponsors.

biggest hugs and loves, xoxoxoxoo d

Boat Show

Donna — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 22:59:09 GMT

Hi to all!
Life is sure speeding along, plenty to do.

The Bristol Boatshow was a success, the rain held off, bands were great, and lots of people gathered round the new boats and exhibits. Given the boatshow had been rained out the previous years, it was great to see so many out and I had the privilege of meeting most of them. Will Barbeau went to the creative realm and put together a photo display of my journey as well as got promo material together for OceansWatch and Youth4Nature for a second board.

The response was overwelming in favor of both. I spent 2 days telling seastories and relating those stories to the desperate state of the earth as the temperature warms in global warming. The constant barrage of tropical storms, endless instability in weather, total unpredictable nature of the weather patterns due to those warming effects on the atmospheric environment, warming and cooling air, which creates weather. With the added experiences with wildlife and the mentorship I share by the sea herself, all ears and hearts seemed to open. Young people gathered around my mainsail and drew pictures and signed their names all to be flown as I sail, representing their support of solutions to globalwarming, and caring about the ocean, her wildlife and that of the world.

Already young people are answering emails to write and get involved with the decision making process of the USA by giving a voice to their caring. Biggest thanks to The Town, Harbormaster office, Sean Sullivan, and each one that signed my sail, my guest book, leant support, signed up for youth 4 nature and oceanswatch... big huge hugs xoxoxo

Thanks you to Jay Miller, Vice Chair of the Sierra Club in RI and member of the newly created marine committee nationally, who is hosting me at the The Oceans Week Conference in Washington DC. It has been absolutely eye opening experience for me. With all the PR, films and documentaries on the oceans and marine wildlife, it seems inconceivable that the legislative representatives are desperate for the outcry of concern that they can use to forward the cause of saving our endangered ocean creatures and the habitats they live in. Desperate to build support for the agencies that maintain the weather satelites, NOAA, research, education.

There are trust foundations anxious to further the dedication of ocean frontage to sanctuaries ensuring vital critically endangered ecosystems are not destroyed by the careless furthering of capitalistic goals, with total disregard for their impact on life. During the opening statements today Leon Penneta, once Chief of Staff for President Clinton and continued activist for Ocean related preservation issues, dynamically verbalized what all there felt: great passion to see the ocean environment protected and the incredible challenge before each to relate to the whole country (not just coastal America) the intricate, vital interdependance of man with the ocean, regardless of where we live.

The Ocean is the cleanser of the atmosphere, the reservoir of water covering 70% of the earth's surface. The issues of the ocean's preservation are issues that effect every aspect of our life. The air we breath, "our health, recreation, economy, our soul as a country". "What must we do to protect this legacy for our children? " I didn't realize that 50% of our GDP (gross domestic product) comes from Coastal Communities. This is about economy..

But the most astounding thing was to hear the legislative representatives beseech the audience, Non government organizations, organizations representing the consciousness of the populace to create a voice. They are working hard to create bills and policy that will protect our ocean and marine wildlife, the coast for access by all, but when they go to the legislature, they have no power to wield. There are no calls, no letters, no emails, no voices crying "We Need To Take Care Of The Ocean!!!!!" Yes, nature preservation has a voice, though not loud enough, the land!! but not the sea. It is hard enough to get a commercial, money driven, lobby-fed busy congress to consider the future, the beauty and impact of wildlife, but the sea?

Is she impervious to this horendous assault? No way! But the issues most concerning to the constituents, those voices that are screaming for resolution, those are the ones who get policy, funding and support. "We need to hear from diverse groups with a unified voice" states Eric Webster, Director of NOAA Legislative Affairs.

Beyond this the legislative representatives implore us that there is tremendous power at the state and local government level to deal with much of the real, 'at the source' issues facing the environment and wildlife today...

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THERE ARE EARS WAITING TO HEAR, THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH OUR CONCERNS, WHEN VOICED WILL EFFECT LAWS TO BE PASSED TO SUPPORT OCEAN PRESERVATION POLICY, MANAGEMENT OF ALL USING THE OCEAN, PROTECTION FOR THE VAST NUMBERS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM FISH, TO WHALE, TO CORAL. TO PREVENT MORE SHRINKING OF THE ICE AND INCREASE IN THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS GLOBALWARMING IS ALREADY HAVING. HOW MANY MORE UNPRECIDENTED EVENTS.

Not only can we make that difference in Washington, but there are real effective changes that can be made on the state, local and personal level that will make a difference...We don't need to wait for a president to sign a law to create a difference. NO matter the policy made by the government laws are only as good as those who implement them. We can implement great changes now. There will be educational information coming...

Ok, off my soap box.

It is moving. I had never been to Washington DC. The ideals upon which she was built are still etched in the very life of the walls of these most majestic buildings. Ancestors, the battles that have gone before, won and lost, the landmark decisions that have changed the life of every one who calls themselves American. We can envision landmark decisions made today for the ocean's protection, sanctuaries, management of the resources and those who have self-destructively anhilated the very life forms upon which their economy exists, by greed and ignorance, neither of which are excusable.

So... This is a beginning. I hope to begin a new section in the website about how we can help. The simplicity of writing letters and making a phone call at a strategic moment. Getting involved in fun, group activities to clean and restore. To develope the critical thinking skills that allow a person to see issues, consider the impact those issues have on themselves and the world, to consider solutions then evolve with caring to act upon those solutions.

Sierra Club has dedicated all their over 100 years of experience in promoting grassroots change, to as effectively as possible bring action toward creating Cool Cities, Cities which have reduced the human effects on the environment to stop the further devastating effects of Global Warming all over America. There is a place for me to work with the Sierra Club of Rhode Island as a liason to the yachting and marine organizations, health care organizations (as a professional nurse) and schools (having worked with young people for so many years, even a pediatric nurse) to present the Cool City Campaign, Climate Protection Agreement to the local government which will bring the necessary changes to decrease the furthering of Global Warming in the Coastal Rhode Island area. It will give me an opportunity to share my journey, music, but also my deep longing to share the understanding of the unified interdependent nature of humanity and all nature, hoping to help bring postive momentum to needed changes.

Check out www.oceanswatch.com. Also reaching out to that community closest to the sea, the yachting community to build that coalition to effect change, to add their responsible voice as it is the very ocean they rely on for their lifestyle we must work together to protect. Yachtsmen and women are most often very willing to support change but need encouragement to get involved as they have often gone to the sea for solace, not to have a voice, as I did. But let us raise an accountability and standard of caring and doing to decrease the impetus for global warming, stewarding the sea which we use every day.

Check out www.youth4nature.pnn.com A new format I set up for young people to publish their findings, ideas, stories, letters, and photos regarding policy and whatever event or issue is pending in the world regarding wildlife and marine preservation. If our youth can think clearly, creatively figure it out and then write about it, they can effect change. And when this is young people thinking and writing, doing, caring, things change. The next generation has the tools to create a world they want to live in. Inconvenience today is just habit tomorrow once we begin to honor the code of conduct that will protect our future.

Check out www.ocean revolution.com. Getting young people involved, excited and having a blast learning about and caring for the ocean and becoming more effective adults in the process all over the world.

www.bluefront.com; This is for all ages..

May 26 On the Dock

Donna — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:55:44 GMT

II is happily on the town dock in Bristol RI!!

Finally, I got all the sails of II rinsed with fresh water and dried again. Today I will hope to get the canned food boxed up and maybe the clothes consolidated. The canned food lockers are pretty aweful. But it will only take another couple of days to have her more live-able.

Bill and Linda Knowles, friends met in Tortolla at a gig I was singing in Soper's Hole, but who are from Barrington and were my first connection to the Herreshoff museum, have now offered me a room in their house. Wow! These kind of provisions really help me to be able to focus on getting the book going and causes addressed.

We are getting ready for the Bristol Boatshow coming next weekend, June 2 & 3. Inspired Insanity will be placed right along Independence Park's stone wall as long as the weather isn't tempestuous, giving all who come to the fair a look and feel for the living conditions that added to my experience. I'll be playing music alongside friends and the bands scheduled to play from 11-3pm.

To all the local followers: Please come by and enjoy the days!! Money raised will be used to further young people in marine vocations. Anything that brings us closer to the sea is a wonderful experience as she is such a mentor in life. We are talking about doing a raffle of some CD's. For the raffle cost, each can sign my sail which I will have at a table with CD's to purchase, the money raised going to the benefit.

Plans to go to Capitol Hill are made. I'll be on my way a week Monday. I am doing alot of talking these days about the issues of waterways and ocean front land uses, the effects of man on our sea, the greenhouse effect, our precious sea and terra firma family, the wildlife. The more I learn, the scarier it is.

There isn't time to waste. And somewhere deep within I am realizing the necessity of saving the natural kingdom. Truly it is the source of the energy of life, health, and goodness on earth. I am more certain than ever that it is in understanding our oneness with this life-giving force and the ability to care for her that the like tragedy destroying humanity is also saved. We need the mother earth and sea to heal the abuses to humanity as well. I don't know if I feel the natural kingdom is more or less a victim than the human being being raised in the unatural separatist indoctrination of culture and socialization today, but we are all in this together.

The challenge is to visualize health, visualize a world where we belong, steward and share the resources of the world. I had the privilege of spending a week with Angie Diester who spent 14 years sailing and living in the islands of the Pacific. She has been able to share with me the visualization of peoples who are natural and have total belonging, sharing as the basis of their communities. If we can see it we can begin to help to draw it to us at all levels of our lives. I am experiencing it as provisions seem to come on after another. What an amazing potential.

A friend recently said as I entered their kitchen, "Mia Casa, Tu Casa", My home is your home. What an amazing thing to say. Bill and Linda, Will and Melissa, Moe Roddy, the Bristol Yacht Club, Herreshoff Museum, Bristol Marina, Brewer's Marina, Billy Black, last night sailing with Chris Meusler and Jay Miller... So so many.

Yes! the Sailing Was Wonderful on Chris's beautiful wooden 46' Sailboat, (the make escapes me.) Chris and I had met while I was working on my boat in Sakonnet Marina. While on the inaugural sail on II, Chris was out sailing Macanac (sp? sorry) and is she gorgeous on the water. Well, even more so from the foredeck. Thanks Chris and Jay.

I am starting to see a vision to do some racing. I would love to race with Red Dress Racing. The cause of educating women about the devistating effects of neglecting our health, the outcome heart disease, is right up my ally. The old nurse in me, even a cardiac nurse, is riled as Moe has filled me in on the statistics. Check out that website in the "causes" sites at the end of the logs. Possibly by racing, too, I can gain some increased visibility in the yachting community forwarding all the other goals. Life is an open book. What do we really want to do with our lives?
Biggest Hugs to all xoxoxox d

www.donnalange.org
www.yoloadventure.com
www.ushuaialogistics.com
www.xaxero.com
www.gmn-usa.com
www.pacificyachtdeliveries.co.nz
www.sail-world.com
www.internationalmarinebrokers.co.nz
www.mtiadventurewear.com
www.caphorn.com
CABRAL'S CHICKEN, best roast chicken in the world, Bristol RI
5 SECOND RULE, www.fivesecondrule.com, the best band in NE.
Topside Tavern, home sweet home. Bristol, RI
Newport Nautical, consignment and marine store in one.
Brewer's Sakonnet Marina
Herreshoff Marine Museum
Bristol Marina
Bermuda Yacht SErvices
ST George's Dinghy and Sport Club

Log April 10

Donna — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:04:47 GMT

I have to say, I enjoy the time on deck.

It was a marvelous night of stars and silvery waves with rich moon beams. The dawn blazed a magnificent yellow orange ball that created a surreal appearance accross the nearly becalmed smoothened sea. But I will be glad when the wind picks back up.

I managed a short sleep last night when the winds shifted and picked up for a few hours. but then they dwindled with the pre dawn. the gribs give little hope of sailing til this evening when possibly a 5kn breeze will bless me. It doesn't take much to move us along if the wind is on the beam or near to.

There are some puffs of wind today but they are dead on the nose. We'll manage. thanks so much for all the letters. I am finding that some of my symptoms are caused by the exhaust and just fumes off the engine. i am fine. I have spent too much time working with epoxy and have become sensitized to chemicals.

Time for an electric engine or no engine at all. It is such a contradiction of ideals. It is a sunshiny day, not to rub it in to all you New Englanders stuck in the snow! Life is grand. biggest hugs xoxoxo d

February 26

Donna — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:52:05 GMT

As I get more north I will have more east winds. The shape of the high determines the angle of the wind to me. Right now the high is southeast so I get the more NE winds off the west side. As it shifts my winds will go from NE - E - SE.

conditions: temp 88*f, Bar 1017: I was able to finish the rails and get a few coats of Cetol on port rail although the finish will be pitted with water stains. I am more concerned about protecting the wood at this point. All the epoxy put on in NZ was gone and the wood blackening from sun. but all better. Otherwise the boat is performing well as can be expected closehauled.

I am not sleeping well. NOt sure why. I am going to drink only herbal tea today and see if that helps. I am plenty tired but just don't fall off to sleep. plus I am keeping an alarm clock watch of the course as the winds are shifting alot. My hands and feet are getting the 'long time at sea' excema, skin peeling away. But life is grand. Missed contact with Ken Gourlay last night. I am having trouble with transmission. All I can think is it is a propagation issue. I could hear him , but he not me. We will set another time with email. all good for him as of yesterday. big hugs to all. loves xoxoxo d

Homeward Bound!

Donna — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 22:13:54 GMT

Donna Lange is Homeward Bound!

At 20:00 UTC (17:00 local) on 25th Jan 2007 Donna set sail from Ushuaia on the Beagle Canal in her diminutive 28 footer, Inspired Insanity, on the final leg of her solo circumnavigation. Her destination is Rhode Island, 7684 nautical miles away. It could take her close to 100 days. Donna calculated this by reading the miles off the GPS and adding 20 to 25% which gives a total of 10,000 nautical miles.

Her two week stopover was filled with new friendships and kindness from everyone she met, in particular Jonathan Selby and his partner Roxanna Diaz. Donna had met Jonathan in New Zealand when his company, Xaxero Marine Software Engineering Ltd www.xaxero.net, came on board as sponsors of her weather-fax software and satellite interface with SkyEye. "I can't thank Jonathan and Luis Soltero of Global Marine Net www.globalmarinenet.com enough for providing the software and equipment to allow me to share my experience and vision with others."

Jonathan and Roxanna went out of their way to make her stay in Ushuaia as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, their hospitality knew no bounds. From the moment that they themselves sailed down the Beagle Canal to Puerto Williams to welcome Donna, they smoothed her way with officials and authorities, gave her warm dinners in their flat, picked up the pieces when her website crashed from overloading and introduced her to many wonderful, new friends. "Roxanna is a gem of a woman. She has built an amazing yacht service company on her own, becoming a focal point for the yachting community as well as aviation support for groups going to Antarctica. www.ushuaialogistics.com is now a growing business."

Donna was amongst kindred spirits during her stopover, adventurous people who have a wealth of incredible stories to tell between them. "We shared such a common thread of determination and desire to be on the sea." For R and R she enjoyed late night jamming sessions with musicians from many countries - Mike de Hoog, Laura, Maria Julia and Carlos and hiked up into the mountains with Keri and Greg off the expedition yacht Northanger (www.northanger.org) where she was "overtaken by the beauty, the flowers, the blowing snow, tumbling creeks and falls, huge glaciers and caves of ice.... just magnificent."

As for Inspired Insanity "I put a better grade of oil in her for the colder climates - a gift from a Swedish single-hander. Antonio, an American, rebuilt the alternator and Ken on MV Pelagic helped with the engine, so ....wow!"

"It's incredibly windy here with continual gales and snow in the hills. It only pauses for a few hours before another front comes barrelling through. My MTI Adventure Wear gear has really come in handy with the wind and cold and dinghy rides in 40+ knots of wind. A big thank you to Gustavo and all at Afasym Yacht Club for my stay there in the warm!"

Donna's involvement with Ken Barnes's rescue generated considerable interest in the American press and she gave live interviews for National Public Radio (NPR) and ABC TV, as well as receiving coverage in the written press. The overloading to her website, www.donnalange.com and the desire of many strangers to send her donations, precipitated the creation of another site by Jonathan Selby, www.donnalange.org. This will form the basis of a charitable works site hosting benefit organizations and future projects by Donna, as well as carrying her vessel tracking for this final leg.
"The new site is designed by Global Marine Network and I'm very excited to see this underway."

What of the Future?

For many years Donna has been looking beyond herself for causes which she can focus her energies on, in fact this journey has been alot about needing to know for myself what is happiness, what is true, so I can invest my passion in helping others. I hope the website www.donnalange.org will become an educational forum to connect us all to understanding what is going on to ensure the health of the seas, the earth and her people and what we can do to help. One thing I have found in these last years is that if I put my whole heart into what I believe and work hard at it, then I can make things happen.

But I am anxious too, to get back to sea, to my writing and warmer climes although it's hard to pull away from such new friends. If it wasn't for the pleasure of the company of the sea and her entourage, the desire to move forward with the next stage of my journey and my wonderful family and friends waiting at home, it would be more difficult to leave. It is such a magical place.

The first stage of Donna's journey was a tough sail east along the Beagle Canal. A lovely sunrise on the morning of the 26th was small compensation for the winds which taunted her all day. " I have to say it has been miserable,   continually changing sails to keep the speed up. Every ten minutes the wind changed 180. When the sails did finally set, I went below to check the charts and laid my head on the pillow with the alarm set for 15 minutes. I was suddenly woken with a clang and bang to discover that I had slept through the alarm and 30 minutes had passed - long enough for the wind to send the boat round in circles and drive her onto the shore. I was being shoved up against the rocks by the rising tide and surrounded by a bed of massive long seaweed." Fortunately the incredible kelp beds, which are infamous in the area, had saved the day, slowing the boat as she came towards the shore and Donna was able to slid off backwards, start her up and move off unscathed "with a tear of relief and exhaustion, fear.

About an hour after this drama she was visited by a pod of black and white dolphins which drew nearer as she played tunes on her whistle. The water was so clear she could see the detail of their colouring and as they swam to the surface they each rolled their head to one side and look straight into her eyes. "This was magic! This has never happened to me before."

"I am now thinking how different this next leg will be from the last. I had painted a vision of a more relaxed leg and the truth is it will be wrought with low winds, variables, squalls and probably the ever search for the magical 'trade winds' that have eluded me the world round. No more 120 mile days for a while. No Southern Ocean current to bring me along. Yes, there are currents but not so steady."

Two days after leaving Donna was visited by some seals. "It was so still that I was able to hear a slight splash out of place, jumped to deck and there were three or so seals swimming past from bow to stern. I grabbed for my whistle and played them some tunes but they continued on. They rise to the surface like dolphins but then stop, toss their nose in the air, shake like a puppy coming out of a pond, and then roll back under the water."

On the third day at 11pm, which is near dark in those latitudes, the radar reflector came down in winds of 20 knots from NNW . The wire had chafed through. Luckily Frankie from the Milford Cruising Club in Auckland saved the day with his webbing mast ladder! It worked brilliantly allowing Donna to climb the mast. "It isn't easy, but much safer.   I can get up the mast and even bask in the sights from above, without fear of the deep dive down."

Donna has just come through another amazing storm and her own words capture the experience perfectly -

The southern ocean seems to be holding on to me for some reason. I can't get away. I am beat. I feel trampled too. The sea conditions were just incredible. I was sailing off cliffs of water, hitting the ocean with such force, it was as if a bomb went off. How can this boat endlessly take this abuse? Especially when I know she has already beaten for months to wind in the past. The dodger is hurting. The wind just tore the last of the seams holding the frame to the cloth, which is really on its last legs, original for the boat. I'll stitch it back together over the next few days with the old genny. The steering vane flag also is shredded. The wind was wild. Once the last fury began, the seas turned to monster chop and I had to turn downwind. It meant sailing back into the front but the front was moving faster than me. I had no choice. The boat would explode if she had to keep hitting the sea that hard. I reduced sail just enough to keep steerage. I tried to rest, but though I lay down, I was just thrown too hard to sleep at all. My back was a mess. Shooting pains of sciatica. No way to be comfortable. To get up and try to move around was to be thrown around. Finally, well after dawn, the winds clocked to SW and the seas began to even out, though still 15ft+, winds gusting to 30+ knots. I went on deck and raised the main, changing the sail pattern to suit downwind sailing, finally on course. The sun shining, although wind still 25 knots. I go below for a rest.

So many thanks to Neil Van Gundy