Mother's Day: To the moon and back
by Team Brunel 13 May 2018 15:57 AEST
With her 41 years, Abby Ehler (UK) is one of the most experienced sailors in the fleet. At the age of six, her father took her on her first sailing trip.
"At first I hated it," Abby looks back. The turning point came after a few months, when she steered a small sailboat in strong wind alone: "I had the feeling that I could control the elements - a moment of happiness that I will never forget."
Now, 35 years later, Abby is mother of the six year old Harley and sailing her third Volvo Ocean Race. A short interview with this mother who is competing in the Volvo Ocean Race.
What is the most important lesson you as a mother teach your child?
"I'm not sure that that boils down to one most important thing but there are many elements: respect, discipline, treating others like you want to be treated yourself. Yeah, I think I'm just trying to bring up a well rounded and grinded child."
What does the race teach us?
"As a society it's certainly raising awareness about ocean pollution. That's one of the big things that we are seeing. Not many people get to go to the places that we do and so to be able to bring back the images and stories from those parts of the world is helping to open people eyes."
"In terms of what the race is teaching me. Euhm.... Definitely it's a character building race. It puts you to your limits physically and mentally. Hopefully you become a better person than before it."
"What it's teaching my child? It's great for him to follow on a map back home where we've been sailing to. He's been fortunate enough to come to some of the stopovers and experience different cultures and meet different people. It just really opened his eyes to the wider world."
How do you see the future for the next generation?
"The world is definitely more aware to the problem of plastic pollution, global warming, I mean there are many factors that us a society having an affect on the world that we are living in. I think our sport helps to raise this awareness. It's going to be a slow and long process but at least this is starting to happen and we're moving in the right direction. "
"It's worrying how much data and research we're starting to see now and how plastic is moving up on the food chain. It's a huge worry and, like I said before, I'm just thankful that people are getting more aware of it. And things are starting to happen."