I grew up sailing with my family on Lake Washington and Puget Sound on our 28-foot CROD, which is a wood boat built in Astoria, Oregon in 1935. The Seattle Yacht Club has been a part of my life since the very beginning, as my mom insisted on stopping by “the Club” on the way home from having me at the hospital downtown. Though not a competitive sailor as a kid, I stayed close to the water, rowing on crew for two years in high school and on into college. Once I graduated from the University of Washington, I went to work on the floor of the local Shore Sails loft building sails. One of Swiftsure Founders, Brad Baker, was the sales and service manager at the loft. He introduced me to racing aboard the J-24 Keema. We also raced together on our friends’ Thunderbird Rev for about 10 years. In 2006, I jumped at the opportunity to race to Hawaii in the Victoria to Maui Race aboard the Santa Cruz 52 VOODOO CHILD.

After many years in Early Childhood Education, I was drawn back to working alongside Brad in the marine industry at Swiftsure Yachts. I was lucky to be able to put my organizational, bookkeeping and other business skills to use in the business here where we are often helping our customers along the path of fulfilling dreams.

Re-exploring our local waters on our Perry Pilothouse 48 Capaz and introducing our sons to the fabulous spots, many accessible only by water, that are right here in our own “backyard” has to be one of the most fun aspects of being a parent. Then as a family, jumping into the experience of our 14-month cruise to the South Pacific and back was yet another opportunity that I feel grateful to have had come my way.

As an owner, I look forward to transitioning the legacy of Swiftsure Yachts into the next generation. My return to Swiftsure Yachts after cruising gave me the ability to help answer some of the “what’s it like out there” questions that our blue water bound clients may have. For me, it has been very fulfilling to have had the incredible opportunity to go cruising and then come back to be a part of making that dream come true for others.

I wholeheartedly agree with a favorite quote from Kenneth Grahame’s classic novel ‘The Wind in the Willows’ when Ratty states to Mole “Believe me my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”