New Jersey based crew member sails into home port

Derry~Londonderry~Doire crew member Kristi Wilson, 27, had never sailed before signing up for the race. Now, the memory of a lifetime will be created when she sails into her home state of New Jersey two years after seeing the fleet at Liberty Landing while running.

Sales advisor Kristi and her fellow crew are getting excited about sailing past the Statue of Liberty to approach the iconic skyline of the Big Apple having completed 9 months and more than 30,000 miles of ocean racing on the penultimate leg of the race series.  

Kristi, from Jersey City, is taking part in the full circumnavigation.

Kristi says: “Two years ago, I saw the yachts in the marina and the colourful decals, destinations and race pennants flying off the rigging and it caught my interest, as I had never seen sailboats like that in the marina before. At first I didn’t think much of it, but when I was running back by the boats someone was walking up from the pontoon so I asked them about it.

“They told me I could go and look around one of the boats on a tour with one of the crew members who explained and demonstrated how they race, eat, sleep and navigate during their round the world adventure.

“I had been planning on taking a break from work and traveling the world starting the summer of 2013. I wanted to have a more meaningful travel experience, rather than just being a tourist.

“This adventure sounded perfect. Not only would I be literally traveling around the world, but this experience would offer me the opportunity to meet extremely interesting people from all walks of life and gain leadership and teamwork skills through the process of navigating a yacht through the world’s toughest seas.”

Kristi adds the race is about finding personal limitations she never knew she had before and pushing beyond them. 

“From being thrown across the foredeck by massive waves, swinging around at the top of a pitching mast, to being knocked down in the Southern Ocean, I have encountered some of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Somehow through all this you manage to find a new resilience you never knew existed and the strength to get through whatever is thrown your way on this race.

“I am really looking forward to sailing into New Jersey and seeing all my friends and family welcome me home and to show my fellow team mates around the city.”

3 June – 6pm to 8pm: Open boat tours, FREE, Liberty Landing Marina, New Jersey