Brittany Mauer. Bound away around the world with 59° North on the kick-ass swan, ICEBEAR. Inspiring others to live fearlessly, work together, and live their best lives. The Ocean Globe Race 2023 is an 8 month sailing endeavor around the globe.
"What a proof is here of the preciousness of Health and Time and of the advantages of an early dedication of heart.. I beseech thee not to make light of this warning." - Father Robert Howard to son Luke Howard, "The Modification of Clouds."
Though my goals have ranged far and wide, several have always stuck with me.
1. Wake up happy everyday
2. Accept & seek new challenges, you are either winning or learning.
3. Do things that scare the sh!t out of you.
“The Ocean Globe Race (OGR) is a fully crewed retro race in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race to mark the 50th Anniversary of the original event. It’s an eight-month adventure around the world for ordinary sailors on normal yachts. Racing ocean-going GRP production yachts designed before 1988, there will be no computers, no satellites, no GPS, and no high-tech materials. Sextants, team spirit and raw determination alone in the great traditions of ocean racing are allowed on this truly human endeavor. These will be real heroes pushing each other to the limit and beyond – in a real race! Following the success of the 2018 Golden Globe Race, the concept of retro fully crewed, traditional ocean racing around the Globe has returned!
— Don McIntyre // OGR Founder
Earlier this year I applied to participate in the OGR with the offshore sailing company 59º North. I filled out the application and thought, this would be incredible, a total long shot, but I had to try. What did I have to lose?
After a lengthy application and interview process, and despite not having the finances to participate, I was selected to be part of the crew for the round the world race! The founder and owner 59º North, Andy Schell, and first mate, Emma Garshagen, felt my previous sailing experience and can do attitude would be a great fit for the round the world sailing adventure on ICEBEAR. It felt like a dream for the first few weeks until I met Andy and Emma on ICEBEAR in Maine this summer.
For the past 10 years I have spent about half of each year sailing for various sail training companies, and the other half of the year in Jackson, Wyoming. I always enjoy a new boat and a new crew with endless unknown adventures ahead. The community of shipmates I have built over the years is irreplaceable yet always growing. Over the years I have worked on the sailing vessels Corwith Cramer and Robert Seamans, the Pride of Baltimore 2, Arctic Schooner Bowdoin, and the day sailing vessels, Soundwaters, Adirondack 2, Eleanor, and Christeen.
I had the delight of working for Maine Maritime Academy this spring on Arctic Schooner Bowdoin as crew on their 7 week sail training cruise. I have recently returned to my home base and Jackson family. With two years to go to prepare for the OGR I have been working my tail off at the Silver Dollar Bar and for Wyoming Stargazing. I have been saving as much $ as possible to put towards this endeavor, but I need your help! The next two years will be busy mentally and physically training for the race and coming up with the finances to participate. The crew will be busy working together to get ourselves and the ship ready as well as fine tune our celestial navigation skills. $109,000 is my entrance fee and does not cover any of my personal expenses (personal gear, foul weather gear, flights, traveling, working in the shipyard, training camps, ect.)
Donations here are greatly appreciated, and none are too big or too small. The $109,000 that I need to contribute will be supporting 59º North and crew in the Ocean Globe Race. We know this voyage will not be easy, but it will be the adventure of a lifetime. Powered by raw determination, teamwork, and celestial navigation we will be racing around the globe via the southern ocean. These funds will help with crew training, purchasing sails, rigging material, food, safety gear, fund the race inspection and race fee, and so much more.
Check out the official race website:
https://oceangloberace.com/ for more information about the race and https://www.59-north.com/ for information about the offshore sailing company, the ship ICEBEAR and the crew I will be competing with.
Why donate?
Sailing teaches endless lessons about personal investment and the importance of teamwork. It quickly teaches that humans are more capable than you can fathom and not to let fear hold you back from trying something new or different. There is so much that can be accomplished so much more efficiently when you are working with a team that you trust. Sailing teaches you not to get comfortable but to build confidence. Every action and every thing has a place and purpose on a sail boat. There is always something to learn about yourself, how you interact with your environment, and that there are always consequences for your actions and even your inactions.
How can we translate these lessons into everyday life? How do we build supportive communities and brave leaders? Dedication, intention, purpose, unknown adventure, perseverance, trust, resilience, critical thinking and problem solving, courage, and bravery are few of the many qualities that crew embellish that lead to successful, safe, and meaningful adventures. For many of us this is a lifestyle that translates into the way we carry ourselves on land and at sea.
I am hoping to inspire others to go above and beyond, and not limit what they think they can do or what they think is possible. There is so much we can all learn between mental strength, physical strength, and teamwork that will not only enable and encourage humans to see the magic in one another but in the natural world. This by no means will be an easy race, but whatever successes come of it will be rewarding in so many ways.
You can follow our adventures on 59North.com, as well as on instagram @59Northsailing @Bmmauer
By donating to this endeavor I ask you to make a commitment to yourself that you will live your best life, whatever that means to you. Life is short, and time is precious.
Be intentional about how you spend your time, and how you interact with the people in your life. As able, please inspire others to do the same.
Please share your stories with me;
- obstacles, lessons learned, a new goal or something you've always wanted to accomplish, sparks of inspiration in your life ...
- your favorite accomplishment and what it took to get there, how support from family, friends, and mentors shaped your experiences ...
Many thanks !
Be easy,
Brittany (BMau) Mauer
