Sailing for octavia
When the ECC was in the creation phase, I was asked what I would like as an identity symbol. This is what I chose. Both the moon (feminine) & sun (masculine) energy with the flying fish. An exquisite creature, with me on my transatlantic crossing. Adorned across my chest to represent sailing 10,000 nautical miles. Traditionally the swallow (bird) has been used with sailors, I chose the flying fish - pure freedom, a liberated being. This graphic was created by @Dane Zahorsky with the tattoo image created by @Phil Bartell
It all started when…
I updated my passport and signed up for crewbay- a website to find boats to crew on, while still living in the desert. Within a couple years I had lived in Hawaii and then hopped on a boat in Florida that crossed the Atlantic to Portugal. Arriving back just before the election in 2016, I hopped on another boat (no interest to occupy US soil), named the AmaraZee. I spent the next while either with the Caravan Stage Company in BC or time in Mexico….eventually dropping anchor in the Bay Area of Ohlone Chochenyo land. 2 dreamboats later, here we are creating the next adventure. - you can learn more in Love Notes or Live.
Now having been gifted amidst the fires, uprisings and COVID (check out my Wish List on My Way with Money) a 30 ft sailboat we are (my fiancé and First Mate) are preparing for a time of living between the boat and our ‘96 Ford Aerostar van. We handshake on the value of Adventure.
Our 30 ft. Tartan OCTAVIA, named in honor of renowned Black Lesbian Science Fiction Writer Octavia E. Butler known for dystopian novels exploring themes of Black injustice, global warming, women’s rights and political disparity. Acclaimed for her lean prose, strong protagonists, and social observations in stories that range from the distant past to the far future - feeling like 2020. OH AND YEA, SHOW ELDER QUEER SOME LOVE.
We'd LOVE folx who also identify as queer, trans, non-binary gender queer, Fae or butch elder to show us the ropes and build community on the water.
And pt. 2 dream is teaching young queer youth how to sail, live in intergenerational community and create life changing adventures and rites of passage - in the lineage of one of my teachers, Outward Bound.
Some of my most recent explorations have been posting to many social media sites and finding other Queer & Trans (of varying levels of sailing knowledge) sailors in the area and world-wide.
We are committed to creating a culture that challenges and dismantles systems of oppression in our life, and now with creating community with our boat, recognizing how we can apply that in both theory and practice within the sailing culture and community we are eager to build.
I love creating environments to learn together, skill build, mentor and when it comes to real or perceived risk, I believe I take safety (emotional and physical) seriously and personal. I'm really wanting a diverse group of folks with different skill levels to enjoy our boat and teach one another.
We are open to sharing the boat, this resource, particularly with Black & brown folks, who want to sail together - without me and other white folks getting in the way.
RESOURCES & INSPIRATION
Sailing for Social Justice & Tala & interview & Transforming dominant sail culture
At its core, SSJ seeks to transform dominant sail culture by: Bringing attention to past and present activist movements in which water vessels (e.g., canoes, boats, ships) play a central role.
Making connections between navigating waterways and navigating systems of oppression.
Uplifting the significance of seafaring traditions for building a livable and sustainable future.
A project that places sailing-and the sea at large-in conversation with social and healing justice.
The Incredible Voyage of Bill Pinkney, 1st african american to circumnavigate & 1st out gay man to circumnavigate
Sailing & racism, BIPOC sailors, US Sailing Leadership Forum: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Series LGBTQ+ Community in Sailing
Transwoman sailor Stephanie Helms
Other panelist: John Deruff
US Center for Safesport & white leadership @ usa sailing
Yemaya is the Yorùbá Orisha or Goddess of the living Ocean, considered the mother of all. She is the source of all the waters, including the rivers of western Africa, especially the River Ogun.
Yemaya was the river goddess of the Yoruba in Nigeria. When her people were hoarded onto the slave ships, Yemaya went with them, thus becoming their Goddess of the Ocean. ... Yemaya is a mother goddess, the goddess of home, fertility, love and family.
Learning from & listening to Natalie Daise