I have completed two major sailing trips. The first was circumnavigating Newfoundland under Captain Kirsten Neuschafer, who became the first woman to win a solo around the world race shortly after our trip. The second was a trip to Greenland and Arctic Canada under Captain Skip Novak, a renowned sailor and explorer. The first trip was in the summer of 2020 and acted primarily as a scouting mission for later trips. The second trip in 2024 was meant to bring a film crew from the BBC to photograph Auk's in Greenland. Ultimately, the BBC was unable to get proper visas in the wake of COVID, and the trip became a second scouting venture for future charters and a training opportunity for green crew members. I am currently signed on to return to Greenland and the Arctic in the summer of 2026 as first mate. The purpose of this new trip is to bring climate scientists from the University of Maine to areas of intense glacial melt to conduct water sampling. 

For the 2024 trip, I was brought on as the first mate/engineer. While the roles are generally very communal on board, I was in charge of one of the three watches, maintaining the engines aboard, and bringing the newer crew members up to speed. 

Traveling through iceberg flows and poorly charted waters put me in a position where I was often solely responsible for the safety of the boat and everyone on board. This position made me doubly aware of how important attention to detail and preparation are. Failing to see a submerged iceberg or not having the boat ready for a change of sails or course could have had dire consequences. 
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With the consequences in mind, it was paramount to get help early when trouble arose. Tasks on the boat were far more likely to go awry when done with only one set of hands, especially when it was cold and dark. I had to learn to be more aware of when help was needed and to feel more comfortable asking for it often. This was one of the big lessons I took away from my trip and continues to prove its merit time and time again.
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More information about the trip can be found on Skip Novack's Newsletter: Newsletter