Donna Lange Safely round the Horn
by Jane Pares and Will Barbeau on 21 Jan 2007
Donna Lange enjoys a beer on arrival Jonathan Selby
After 316 Days into her solo circumnavigation, Donna Lange is safely round the Horn
'Oh my Goodness!!! How do I begin. I am safe and sound in Puerto Williams.'
Donna Lange and her 28ft yacht, Inspired Insanity, arrived safely in Puerto Williams on the Beagle Canal at 21:00 local time on Monday 8th January after 48 days crossing the Southern Pacific Ocean.
She was welcomed by Jonathan Selby, Director of Software Development for Xaxero Marine Software Engineering Ltd who are sponsoring SkyEye navigation and communications equipment onboard her boat.
Selby reports that Donna 'is in good health and enjoying a beer after clearing customs.'
On January 7th she rounded the infamous Cape Horn. 'The weather was quite squally, grey and rainy all day but it was certainly a safe and easy rounding. I was actually driving at that point with winds <10 knots. I was greeted by a lovely pod of dolphins as I approached the Horn and seals have been following me since. Just beautiful. Snow peaked mountains above the tree line complete the picture. It is pleasantly warm.'
Having negotiated the Cape, Donna pushed her way north through the islands surrounding Isla Hornos. It was a final test of endurance in an area with notoriously fickle winds - blowing 50 knots one minute and five the next from every corner of the universe. Exhausted and soaked to the skin, Donna snatched the opportunity to go below and rest, moments later she was roused by the whizzing of the wind generator.
'Suddenly the boat is thrown sideways. I pull myself out of my bunk and go on deck. The wind has tossed the boat on its side, water is flooding the deck, pouring into the cockpit. Oh my God, I could go under here! Grab the lines, let out sail, adjust the steering, then get the sail down…. the boat settles down off the wind. We are flying along at 6 knots right on course. It was then that I began to take in all around me. I'm standing in awe once more.
Inwardly I have perfect peace. I have done it. I think it was at this moment that the accomplishment of what I had done was actually realized in my spirit. I felt confident, strong. I felt pride. I have done it. Day and night, I have sailed my boat, fixed her, worked hard and we have done it. We have become true sailors.'
Her crossing of the South Pacific Ocean is a remarkable feat in such a small yacht and is the 2nd leg in her solo circumnavigation which started in Nov 2005 from Rhode Island in the US. Sailing 17,000 miles in 168 days she faced huge seas and relentless squalls to arrive in New Zealand in April 2006. Inspired Insanity and Donna had taken a pounding - so seven months of repairs to the boat and herself followed.
Setting sail once more on 21 Nov 2006, Donna left New Zealand much better equipped than when she’d arrived thanks to so many willing hands and kind sponsors. Global Marine Network www.globalmarinenet.com and Xaxero www.xaxero.com extensively upgraded her navigation systems – adding the latest automatic satellite location equipment and weather faxes, along with email facilities. Donna was also able to post daily reports to her website www.donnalange.com and keep in touch with her shore team.
Forty-eight days at sea without sight of land or the company of another human being is a considerable test of courage and character. Donna has plenty of both, together with an tremendous ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve their goals. As well as being a musician, she’s a singer / songwriter and has produced two CDs of fabulous songs. Donna is also a champion for the environment and for those who need a step up in life to carry them forward towards their dreams.
Although the underlying purpose of her incredible voyage is a very personal one of self discovery, 'All along I have had a sense that it wasn't just for my personal growth. I have sensed it would teach me things relevant to others with share.' In July this year she received an award from the US based Stay-n-Out / Serendipity Programme, for the encouragement she’s given to the men and women involved in it. (The programme equips prison inmates with the life-skills they need to support their commitment not to re-offend.)
Donna has generated considerable media interest, particularly in the US, due to her recent offer of rescue for Ken Barnes, another solo circumnavigator from Los Angeles. She was only about 150 miles north of him in the same violent storm that hit them 500 miles off southern Chile last week. Barnes' 44ft steel ketch was rolled and disabled, leaving him helplessly adrift in the Southern Ocean. Donna courageously turned her little boat back into the westerly wind and waves in an attempt to reach him. Fortunately he was picked up by a Chilean fishing boat and Donna continued on her way eastwards to the Horn.
Donna plans to spend two weeks in the area doing some minor work on her boat and enjoy the wilderness of the Beagle Canal, before heading home to Rhode Island 7000 miles away. She expects to arrive back in the States in April.
Donna is receiving numerous requests for phone interviews. Please check out her website for details. www.donnalange.com
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