Standing Before the Mast

Christina is the Senior Vice President of Mystic Seaport Museum. Christina shares with us here earliest sailing experiences growing up sailing on Geronimo which belonged to the St. Georges School in Rhode Island. The Geronimo program was one her father developed and those early adventures set Christina up for an educational and life path on and around the water. Prior to her current position, Christina was the director of the New Bedford Whaling Museum and along with her PhD and growing up as a live aboard, she has a wealth of knowledge of the marine environment. She tells us about the many educational programs and exhibitions available at the Mystic Seaport Museum which involve everything from the preservation of historic vessels to Blue Tech, youth involvement and industry. We also talk a bit about windmills and whales, electric propulsion and when art meets science. Christina also gives us some insight as to the ecology of the Mystic River and how it’s changed over time. The Mystic Seaport facility encompasses 40 acres - 20 of which are open to the public - 130 buildings, a waterfront, and some 500 boats. Many boats travel there for maintenance or repairs by their skilled workforce. Near the end of our talk, we’re joined by Sarah Cahill. Sarah is the director of the education program and we talked a bit about an upcoming surf exhibit. It’s a fascinating talk and if you would like to learn more about Mystic Seaport Museum membership and ticket options, visit mysticseaport.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Meet Matthew Cohen, professional marine photographer, racing sailor, seasoned offshore sailor and sometimes glider pilot. In our conversation, Matt walks us through his early sailing experiences and his introduction to photography which began with a course at school that quickly became his chosen career path. Matt describes some early opportunities he had, such as working for Onne Van der Wal, as well as his own displays at art shows and festivals. In our talk we share our mutual love of helicopters and discuss the value they still offer for marine photographers. Matt also surprises me with the fact he’s a Glider / Sailplane pilot in training and we go off on a brief aviation tangent. Matt has a robust stock photo collection and has commissioned works at offices in NYC. His ambition brought him to organize a very memorable few nights staying, and shooting photos in the remote Sakonnett Lighthouse. Matt beautifully weaves his work history with his sailing history, and lets us in on his approach to the delicate blend of art, business, and creativity. To learn more about Matt, check out his web page at: www.cohenphotography.com From there you can also link to his social media sites and like and follow. Photo copyright Matthew Cohen Photographyhttps://cohenphotography.com/ Original music for podcast composed by Nela Ruizhttps://www.nelaruizcomposer.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Kim Kavin began her journalism career at a newspaper nearly 25 years ago. While many local newspapers have either been bought out, consolidated or shut-down, Kim Kavin made a move to yachting journalism before many of those changes began to proliferate. Her initial move to yachting was well, to Yachting Magazine. Kim walks us through those early days, explaining how she wound up at Yachting and the many other publications with which she’s played a major role. Those other publications include: Soundings, Passagemaker, Cruising World, Soundings Trade Only, Yachts International, and Boatsetter. Part of that discussion includes how she successfully navigated a world occupied predominately by men. Kim introduces me to the practice of “enthusiast oriented journalism”. Unlike in the world of Woodward & Bernstein, the approach to covering a story about a yacht or charter is a different, yet valued pursuit. There exists a delicate dance between the yachting businesses and the journalists that cover them. She also walks us through some of the structural changes that have taken place at magazines, and how she now works as a freelance journalist and writer. Beyond Kim’s work in the world of yachting journalism, she also has a love and passion for dogs that runs deep. That passion runs so deep, her curiosity about the history of her adopted dog led her on a personal journey to discover the origin of her beloved pet. This was documented in her book, Little Boy Blue, released in 2012. CNN did a story on the book that ultimately resulted in a kill shelter being closed down. Most of our talk is about boats, yachts and the behind the scenes of yachting journalism. The last 10 minutes or so are about our mutual love of dogs and her work in that field. You can learn more about Kim, her writing history, accolades and links to her writings and advocacy for freelancers at her web site: http://www.kimkavin.com/ And next time you pick up a copy of Yachting, be sure to look for her name and you’ll be able to put a voice to the words. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Dave Lussier is our guest for this episode. Dave is one of the founding members of the organization Better Bay Alliance. Dave walks us through how it came to be, what they’ve done so far, and their ambitions plans for the future. Here’s the mission statement from their website: “The Better Bay Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the boating experience on Rhode Island waters by identifying, communicating, and promoting safety, accessibility, and cooperation while sharing our wonderful natural resources. Through collaboration with governmental, commercial, and private stakeholders, the Better Bay Alliance strives to be a resource for all who wish to enjoy the Rhode Island waters.” Learn more and follow them at: https://betterbayalliance.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

I’m joined by Capt. Eric Pfirrmann from Save the Bay, and Ted Romanosky, owner of the 1940 classic wooden schooner ‘Good Fortune’. It's our seasonal laid-back gathering over beer and provisions.We recap our collective summer experiences and observations in an informal setting with an even less formal outcome. Occasionally, one of us expresses an opinion or two. We cover everything from the annual Save The Bay Swim, to wood boat repair, boating safety, lighthouse history, and even some personal thoughts on must-have galley equipment and our favorite meals to have aboard. Happy holidays to all, I’ll be back in the new year with some interesting and engaging conversations with people working behind the scenes, and those making a difference in the maritime community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

The Schurmann family set sail in 1984 and became the first Brazilian family to circumnavigate the world. The design and build of Kat is the culmination of that initial voyage and others on previous boats the family has owned. Our talk begins with a tour of the boat and Wilhelm highlighting many of the unique design features. Kat serves as a floating platform for Voice Of The Oceans. Voice Of The Oceans is part of the Schurmann Family initiative in partnership with the UN. The goal is to document and highlight the problem with plastics in the oceans – particularly single-use plastics – and work to find alternative solutions at the source. They host scientists and researchers aboard on segments of their voyages. Kat was designed and built to have the least amount of impact on the environment as she travels. As we learn through our tour of the boat, Wilhelm points out their onboard trash compactor, glass crusher, and a marine sanitation system that rivals and sometimes outperforms municipal systems. After the tour, Wilhelm and I sat down at the main salon table and talked about the history of the family’s sailing adventures on previous boats and the mission of Voice Of The Oceans. We also get to hear a bit of Wilhelm’s background. When I first met him aboard at the Newport International Boat Show, I assumed he had an engineering background as he explained all the systems and what went into their development. Turns out he’s not an engineer by trade, but a professional athlete – a 5-time Brazilian Overall Champion in windsurfing! But one thing is for certain – he knows every aspect of all the systems inside and out. While they were in Newport for the boat show, they also participated in a beach clean-up with Clean Ocean Access. They’ve since left Newport and I believe are now in Bermuda. You can learn more about Kat, the crew, their mission and follow along at: voiceoftheoceans.com Custom music for podcast composed by: nelaruizcomposer.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

In this episode we get to know Ian Ridgeway. Ian, along with Casey Blum are co-founders of the FUEL Program. FUEL stands for: Foundation for Underway Experiential Learning. The topsail schooner Shenandoah is at the center of the FUEL program. Shenandoah was conceived, designed and built by Captain Robert Douglas and she has a long history of providing memorable sailing experiences for thousands of people. Lead by Ian, Casey, and team which includes captains, crew members and voyage guides, Shenandoah now operates as a non-profit educational sailing vessel. Ian has a degree in Environmental Studies and a US Coast Guard 500 ton ocean master's license. For more information, you can visit https://www.fuelprogram.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

In this episode I sit down with Newport International Boat Show Director Lisa Knowles and Marketing Director Jocelyn Emory. The show - the 51st - will take place September 15th through the 18th, 2022 located at the Newport Yachting Center Marina in downtown Newport, Rhode Island. Among this year's expanded offerings, Lisa and Jocelyn tell us about several new events, educational opportunities and giveaways. The Newport for New Products awards program is of course back and will be showcasing new boats and boating products making their US debut. There's a People's Choice Award for Best Overall Boat Debut which is chosen by attendees prior to the show via online voting. The winners of that will be announced on Friday Sept. 17th of the show. There are on-the-water training sessions for both power boaters and sailors as well as women-only dedicated courses. New to the show this year, the vessel Kat will be appearing with the organization 'Voice of the Oceans' who are committed to ridding the oceans of plastic pollution. You may also visit the sailing vessel Maiden at the show. Some of my more astute listeners may recall us covering this with guest, Erica Lush, when we talked about her involvement with the program. The Maiden program inspires women and girls all over the world; raises funds for girls’ educational programs around the world; and shows, by example, what girls can achieve if they embrace STEM subjects in school. Also getting a lot of attention will be a dedicated booth featuring 12 popular YouTube influencers, hosts and personalities. Just a few of the popular names mentioned were "Acorn to Arabella", "Captain Q Yacht Hunter" and Louis Sauzedde from "Tips From A Shipwright". Running concurrently with the show, the 12 Metre Yacht Club with the North American fleet of 12 Metre Yachts and Ida Lewis Yacht Club will be hosting the 12 Metre Championships September 16-18. The final day will feature the fleet parading through Newport Harbor at 10am and the Yachting Center is welcoming all attendees to the marina docks to view the event. They've packed a lot into this show beyond the already robust list of boat builders, product manufacturers and services on display. And with a bit of planning, you can really get a lot out of this show. We also discuss the best way to get your tickets - in advance on their website Newport International Boat Show Offical Site - Newport, Rhode Island (newportboatshow.com) the best way to get to the show, and where to park. There's a bit of inside baseball in here as we also discuss the work that goes on behind the scenes. We cover all of this and much more, and I thank Lisa and Jocelyn for being so generous with their time so close to the start of the show. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: Newport International Boat Show Offical Site - Newport, Rhode Island (newportboatshow.com) Original music for podcast composed by Nela Ruiz nelaruizcomposer.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

In this episode we hear from Mike Patterson, Whitney Curtin, Aaron 'Ike' Isaacson and Steve Baskis about Sail To Win. They formed Sail To Win "to honor and empower wounded veterans, first responders, and people that have served their community with disabilities by training, educating, and competing in sailing competitions around the globe. We bring adaptive and able-bodied athletes together, conduct training events, and facilitate opportunities for technology experts to assist service members with solutions that will help them become highly competitive in sailing and increase their everyday quality of life." Learn more about Sail To Win at: www.sailtowin.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Christopher Pastore is Associate Professor of History at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Focusing on early American environmental history, his most recent book, titled Between Land and Sea: The Atlantic Coast and the Transformation of New England (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2014), examines the Narragansett Bay watershed from first European settlement through the early nineteenth century. As a journalist, he has contributed articles on sailing or related topics to the New York Times, Boat International, Cruising World, Newport Life, Offshore, Restoration Quarterly, Real Simple, and Sailing World, where he worked as Associate Editor. He also served as Editor of American Sailor and Junior Sailor, the official publications of U.S. Sailing, the sport's national governing body. In 2005 (paperback 2013), he published a biography of Nathanael Herreshoff titled Temple to the Wind: The Story of America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Masterpiece, Reliance (Lyons Press, 2005). Christopher Pastore holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in American History and M.S. in college teaching from the University of New Hampshire as well as a B.A. in Biology from Bowdoin College and M.F.A. in nonfiction Creative Writing from the New School for Social Research, where he has taught courses in the Writing Program for fourteen years. During the 2018-2019 academic year he was a Marie Curie COFUND Fellow at the Trinity College Dublin Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute. Learn more about Christopher at: www.christopherpastore.com Christopher’s faculty page: https://www.albany.edu/history/faculty/christopher-pastore You may order his book Between Land and Sea at: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674281417 Original music for podcast composed by Nela Ruiz Music Soundtrack Composer For Films | Nela Ruiz Music Composer (nelaruizcomposer.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Meet Nautical Author and Historian Eric Wiberg. Born in New York in 1970, Eric Wiberg is a citizen of Sweden and the US. He is the author of over 20 books on maritime history - particularly in the Bahamas where he grew up. He left the Bahamas at 13 for boarding schools in New England and enrolled at Boston College in 1989. He was hired to race to Bermuda in 1989, and in 1991 sailed as mate from Antigua to Belgium to attend Harris Manchester College, Oxford. In 1993 he self-published five collections of writings and set out on a voyage from Panama to New Zealand on a 68’ wooden boat, becoming captain in Galapagos. A year of travel was the basis for a coming-of-age memoir. Eric earned his US Coast Guard 100-ton captain’s license in 1995. He moved to Singapore to operate a commercial fleet of tanker ships. After three years he returned to Newport where he would write off-season and deliver yachts to and from the Caribbean from spring to fall. After his fourth round-world trip, he enrolled at Roger Williams School of Law on half-scholarship and passed the bar in 2005. Eric also earned a master’s degree in Marine affairs from University of Rhode Island. He has operated 120 vessels over 75,000 miles. He’s sailed to or from Bermuda over 30 times and sailed across two oceans. Eric has had stints with Titan Salvage and Overseas Salvage in Freeport, Bahamas. And in 2010 he joined Tradewinds, the Norwegian shipping publication. From 2013 to 2019 Eric was in marketing for McAllister Towing in Manhattan, where he lived until 2019. He is on the New York Yacht Club Library Committee and the Steamship Historical Society board. Eric has published over 100 articles, addressed 50 international audiences, and appeared on TV or film 7 times for audiences in Spain, France, Norway, and for the BBC. He has also been featured in Vanity Fair. US Congress leveraged his research in November 2019 to issue medals to 10 US Navy aviators for the sinking of U-84. … Eric is active on Instagram where you can find him @ericwiberg And be sure to check out his web site at ericwiberg.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Sarah is a commercial fisherman with a BS in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island; and a MSc in Nature, Society, and Environmental Policy from University of Oxford in England. Her interest in fishing really began when she was teaching in Valparasio, Chile. Sarah explains how this interest came about and its connection to certain types of fishing here on Narragansett Bay. Sarah is the author of two books: Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage: An Ecological History - published in 2015; and Simmering the Sea: Diversity Cookery to Sustain Our Fisheries - published in 2018, which she co-authored with Kate Masury and Marie-Joelle Rochet. We mention Kate in this podcast as she was a previous guest when I had her on to talk about Eating with The Ecosystem - which was founded by Sarah. Sarah has also authored and co-authored numerous reports and peer-reviewed articles, as well as had her work appear in 41N Magazine, ECO-RI News, Commercial Fisheries News, Fisherman’s Voice and the Providence Journal. And she’s given a Ted talk presentation. Beyond her rich academic background, Sarah has fished waters as far away as Alaska to right back here in Rhode Island - both as a deckhand and an owner/operator. She built her own 19’ wooden skiff; has written grants for Rhode Island-based fisheries and science organizations; and is fluent in Spanish having spent five years living in Chile, Honduras and Argentina. From 2015 to 2018, Sarah coordinated the Resilient Fisheries RI project which began as a climate change adaptation effort and evolved into a full strategic planning initiative for Rhode Island commercial fishermen. We also talk about the impact the planned offshore wind farms might have on commercial fishing in our waters. For more information on some of the things we talk about in the podcast, check out: eatingwiththeecosystem.org and resilientfisheriesri.org Original music for the podcast composed by Nela Ruiz. @nelamusica on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Our guest for this one is Capt. Eric Pfirrmann, Lead Captain for Save the Bay here in Rhode Island. As some of you more astute listeners may recall, Eric was my first ever guest when I embarked upon this experimental journey. We begin with an update on the Save The Bay fleet, and Eric brings us up to speed on their latest addition, as well as some of the future roles he foresees that craft playing at Save The Bay. He gives us a bit of background on the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, and the influence it’s had on the seals we see here in Narragansett Bay. That of course leads us to a discussion of the current seal watch tours Save The Bay operates. Eric tells us everything we need to know to have an enjoyable trip with his team - good binoculars are a plus - and how to dress and just be prepared in general. Finally, he talks about the annual Save The Bay Swim with some insight into the planning and logistics that go into organizing this event. You can learn more and book seal tours by visiting SaveBay.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Ryan Rossi – Menemsha Harbormaster Meet Ryan Rossi. Ryan is the Menemsha Harbormaster. Menemsha is an historic fishing village in the town of Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. Ryan gives us all the crucial information you need to know as a recreational boater interested in visiting the port. He explains how to go about reserving your spot - don’t just show up - and the feeding frenzy that takes place at the beginning of May when they open reservations. He also suggests a certain level of proficiency required in handling your vessel before attempting to dock there, and why that’s important. Ryan grew up in Chilmark and was always on and around the water for both recreation and work. Following school, he had a ten-year career in the US Coast Guard. In a fortunate set of circumstances, Ryan wound up stationed back in his hometown at Coast Guard Station Menemsha. It was while he was there when he learned the local Harbormaster was considering retirement. That began a transition which led him to his current position. This episode is packed with good information about a very unique harbor. Here are a few links mentioned in our talk: www.chilmarkma.gov/harbormaster www.dockwa.com www.mvfishermenspreservationtrust.org ______ Original music composed for us by Nela Ruiz - @nelamusica on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

What do you do following retirement from a successful career of 26 years in the Navy which began at the US Naval Academy? You enroll at the International Yacht Restoration School - otherwise known as IYRS School of Technology & Trades - in Newport, Rhode Island where you acquire a whole new set of skills in marine systems. You and your wife then buy a catamaran, sell everything you own, move your family aboard and go cruising. That’s what Glenn Robbins and his family did. Glenn was a classmate of mine from high school who I’d not seen in over 30 years when, in the summer of 2019, he walked into our shop. Glenn and his family had arrived in Newport on their new-to-them Leopard 46 catamaran. As you’ll hear from our talk, Glenn has an infectious level of enthusiasm and energy which he channeled into impressive levels of preparation and planning. He also offers us a dose of reality about living and cruising aboard - and it’s not all cocktails and sunsets. He takes us on their journey from purchasing the boat in Florida and bringing it up to Newport. They then brought it down to Virginia where they joined the Salty Dog Rally to the Caribbean. After some time in the islands, they made the passage across to Panama and through the canal. They cruised on the western side of Panama, and then transited back through the canal where their ultimate destination was Florida. All of this takes place while a global pandemic was unfolding. Glenn gives us a detailed picture on everything from solving problems and repairs, to the history of the places they visit and the excitement of fishing off a catamaran. If you’re considering setting off on your boat for an extended period of time, I think this is a worthwhile listen. You can learn more about their adventure by visiting www.svfearless.com And for more information about IYRS School of Technology & Trades, visit www.iyrs.edu Photo: courtesy of Glenn Robbins Location: Panama Canal, Southbound in Mira Flores Locks 1 February 2021 Original music composed by: Nela Ruiz www.instagram.com/nelamusica/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Meet writer Wendy Mitman Clarke. Wendy is a veteran writer and editor of sailing publications with a career that spans over 30 years. If you've ever picked up a copy of Soundings Magazine, Cruising World or Good Old Boat, it's likely you've either read her work, or something she's had a hand in editing. She's a Recipient of many awards from the Boating Writers International, and the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition to her writing, Wendy and her husband set off sailing for 4 years with their two young children - and a dog who joined them in the last year of the trip. Wendy used the opportunity to weave their experiences with her career through a regular feature which appeared in Cruising World. That feature was called Osprey's Flight. In addition to sharing stories of their travels, she used the space to de-mystify some misconceptions about cruising and living aboard a boat with a family. In short, she offers us a dose of reality to go along with the dream. In our talk, Wendy shares many tips and lessons she learned. We talk about everything from home schooling and medical considerations, to re-entering a land based life after 4 years aboard. You can learn more about Wendy and follow links to her writing and professional associations by visiting www.wendymitmanclarke.com/ Original music composed by: Nela Ruiz www.instagram.com/nelamusica/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

In this episode we hear from John Taft about rum running along the coast of Rhode Island during prohibition. Like me, John is a bit of a history enthusiast and when he discovered that the boat that he and his partners had purchased to run mansion tours turned out to be an actual former rum runner, he went down many rabbit holes researching not only the history of the boat, but the history of all the rum running activities off the coast of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay and beyond. One of the things he discovered was that the boat they had refurbished was the actual boat that was in involved in one of the most horrific and deadly conflicts with the Coast Guard during prohibition. In our talk John weaves the story of this deadly event - also known as the Black Duck Massacre - with the history, routes, logistics and characters involved in the various enterprises. John also provides us with a wealth of information on the design and construction of the various boats that were used in the liquor smuggling operations in the mid to late 1920’s. Near the end of the podcast we talk a little bit about a documentary film he is involved in producing. As he mentions in our talk, the production is on hold at the moment due to covid, but you can sign up to receive updates on their web site: black-duck.org - as well as connect with them on social media. Original music composed by: Nela Ruiz www.instagram.com/nelamusica/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

My guest for this episode is professional sailor, Erica Lush. Erica began sailing at a young age with positive influence from her parents, and followed her passion sailing competitively for her high school and university teams. Erica is also involved in the Maiden Factor. Maiden carried the first all-female crew to sail around the world when Tracey Edwards skippered her in the 1989/1990 Whitbread Round The world Race. Having fallen in disrepair from neglect, Tracy found Maiden in 2015 and set about raising funds to bring her back. Erica talks about her involvement in sailing on Maiden with the foundation in a professional capacity, as well as the mission of The Maiden Factor. We hear about her experiences bringing Maiden through both the Panama and Suez canals in the same year, handling repairs underway and the value of having a bell pepper aboard. She also gives us the background and plan forward for the program, and how COVID has had an impact on that. For many summers Erica has been involved with the 12 Meter charter fleet here in Newport. Last summer Eric captained the 12 meter Weatherly - which had recently sold - and she shares some of her experiences with us. With COVID placing a lot of programs on hold, Erica has delved into the world of double-handed sailing and she shares some insights about teamwork and boat management when there’s just two of you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com

Meet Kelsy Patnaude. Kelsy is a Visual-Artist with an M.F.A. in Visual Art from Lesley University of Art and Design, Cambridge, MA. which she earned in 2019. Kelsy also has a B.A. in Studio Art and a Minor in Art History from Salve Regina University here in Newport which she earned in 2012. A professional sailor, Kelsy came to sailing a bit later than some, but has had many great experiences including sailing on a classic gaff-rigged Colin Archer out of Falmouth in the UK; sailing as crew on a classic 12 meter in Newport; sailing aboard classics in the Caribbean; and most recently, racing aboard a Shields she acquired with some friends. Kelsy explains how sailing, the sea and gender roles influenced her art - and ultimately her thesis. That thesis is 'Thalassic: Women, Gender, and the Sublime in Relation to Marine Art.' All of this can be found on her web site kelsypatnaude.com I also encourage you to check out her Instagram account - @kelsypatnaude - which features not only some of her art and photography, but also some of her creative adventures such as being towed on a surfboard from the topping lift of a classic yacht as it sails along, and being towed on a surfboard by a horse running on the beach. Kelsy explains how she conjured up both of these adventures and convinced others to go along with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chrisheaton.substack.com