{"id":2053,"date":"2020-11-24T04:53:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T04:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/?p=2053"},"modified":"2020-11-27T22:11:31","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T22:11:31","slug":"stuck-in-new-zealand-solo-globe-trotting-sailor-elana-connor-launches-a-figure-8-sailing-campaign-to-raise-awareness-and-funds-for-foster-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/2020\/11\/24\/stuck-in-new-zealand-solo-globe-trotting-sailor-elana-connor-launches-a-figure-8-sailing-campaign-to-raise-awareness-and-funds-for-foster-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Stranded in New Zealand, solo globe-trotting sailor Elana Connor launches a Figure 8 sailing campaign to raise awareness and funds for Foster kids."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Solo sailor\u00a0Elana Connor has been\u00a0stuck in New Zealand since March 2020 due to COVID<\/strong> and the governments strenuous effort<\/a> to contain the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was so sailing\u00a0 traveling the globe<\/a>\u00a0with her best friend, Zia \u2014 a small spaniel mix and rescue dog on her beloved craft Windfola. She made landfall in New Zealand in December, 2019, but could not continue on to the Indian Ocean this year as planned because foreign ports in lock down would not accept her craft \u2013 so she has resolved to make very good use of her time by advocating for foster youth in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are two interviews to enjoy \u2013 and several ways to follow Elana!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nov 24. 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oct 6, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/465544841\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elana entered foster care as a teen and bounced through many placements until she turned 18 and had to fend for herself. She is a very strong and capable young women in a difficult and constraining predicament due to COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She is committed to continuing her mission to shine a light for foster youth around the world by circumnavigating \u2014 but wants to make the most of her time in New Zealand by taking on a serious sailing challenge while she waits to carry on to the Indian Ocean in 2021. She is departing on a Figure 8 of the New Zealand North and South islands in partnership with VOYCE Whakarongo Mai (a national advocacy charity for foster youth) to raise monies to fund a scholarship program to send foster youth on the Spirit of New Zealand tall ship\u2019s 10-day youth development journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Figure 8 Journey started mid October 2020 with her departure from Auckland, and with the support of Yachting New Zealand, VOYCE, and the Spirit of New Zealand, she plans to speak with youth, women\u2019s, sailing, and foster kid organizations around the country in all of the ports she visits. If she is successful in her fundraising campaign, she hopes to empower many foster kids with a 10 day sailing journey \u2013 a gift that will teach resilience and skills to last a lifetime.We will check in with her along the way during her Figure 8. She departs from Auckland October 16th, sailing for about 4.5 months to complete the figure 8, timing her return to Auckland with the America\u2019s Cup in March 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her sloop,\u00a0<em class=\"\">Windfola,<\/em>\u00a0is a 1985 Sabre 34 mark I. She has kept the ship simple \u2014 no inverter, generator, heater, fridge, freezer, or water maker! \u2014 and only added what she deemed essential for comfort and safety, like new lifelines, more solar, longer anchor rhode, renewed rig and chainplates, light-air spinnaker, AIS transmitter, a windvane for non-electric self-steering, and a composting toilet. Love what Elana and Zia are doing? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peregrinasails.com\/support-us\">Consider becoming a supporter!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"862\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-9.35.16-PM.png?resize=862%2C1024&ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2062\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-9.35.16-PM.png?resize=862%2C1024&ssl=1 862w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-9.35.16-PM.png?resize=253%2C300&ssl=1 253w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-9.35.16-PM.png?resize=768%2C912&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-9.35.16-PM.png?resize=1294%2C1536&ssl=1 1294w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-05-at-9.35.16-PM.png?w=1398&ssl=1 1398w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 862px) 100vw, 862px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How does <strong>Sail Sport Talk<\/strong> know about her predicament? Elana was based in San Francisco in 2014 when she got the sailing bug. She was- sailing, training and racing out of <a href=\"http:\/\/southbeachyachtclub.com\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"southbeachyachtclub.com\">South Beach Yacht Club<\/a> where she has a small fan base cheering her on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So she is getting active and providing New Zealand a reason to allow her to stay beyond the newly imposed restrictions. She is promoting her circumnavigation 8 of the New Zealand North and South islands in partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/voyce.org.nz\/voyage\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/voyce.org.nz\/voyage\/\">VOYCE Whakarongo Mai <\/a>(the foster program) to raise monies to fund a scholarship program to send foster youth on the Spirit of New Zealand tall ship\u2019s 10-day youth development journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Figure 8 Journey starts mid October 2020 \u2013 and each port she pulls into might make it tricky to get a birth \u2013 but she is determined to be useful and to raise awareness among the Kiwis that the national foster program needs support from the nation.\u00a0 If she is successful \u2013 she will empower several foster kids with a 10 day sailing journey \u2013 a gift of empowerment to last a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"363\" height=\"462\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-9.37.53-AM.png?resize=363%2C462&ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2066\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-9.37.53-AM.png?w=363&ssl=1 363w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-9.37.53-AM.png?resize=236%2C300&ssl=1 236w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Spirit-of-New-Zealand-2-700.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2058\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Spirit-of-New-Zealand-2-700.jpg?w=700&ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Spirit-of-New-Zealand-2-700.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tall ship <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritofadventure.org.nz\">Spirit of New Zealand<\/a> is a steel-hulled, three-masted barquentine from Auckland, New Zealand. It was purpose-built by the Spirit of Adventure Trust in 1986 for youth development. It is 42.5 m in total length and carries a maximum of 40 trainees and 14 crew on overnight voyages<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/CP.jpg?w=600&ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2059\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/CP.jpg?w=512&ssl=1 512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/CP.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Spirit of New Zealand<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>A 10 Day Voyage on board Spirit of New Zealand is a life-changing experience \u2013 unlocking potential, leaving kids ready to face the future!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritofadventure.org.nz\/voyages\/voyage\/10-day-development\">a thousand young Kiwis each year get on board<\/a> to experience the trip of a life time. Gaining a whole new set of skills, lots of new friends and a new confidence to take on the challenges in life. The whole voyage is based on learning by doing. The youth face all sorts of challenges and take part in lots of activities on the ship, on the water and on the shore. Leaving them with a level of self-empowerment only found on the Spirit of New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Increased confidence and skills:<\/strong> On Spirit they improve communication and leadership skills and learn the importance of self-awareness and being a part of a team. As foster kids face the various challenges in life on on ship their confidence increase<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elana is campaigning to provide scholarships for foster youth to go on this unique journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/voyce.org.nz\/voyage\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/VOYCE-STAND.jpg?resize=960%2C960&ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2055\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/VOYCE-STAND.jpg?w=960&ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/VOYCE-STAND.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/VOYCE-STAND.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/VOYCE-STAND.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><figcaption> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>YCE Whakarongo Mai<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>New Zealand has over 6000 children and young people in the state care system.<\/strong> VOYCE\u00a0\u2013 Whakarongo Mai, which stands for\u00a0<em class=\"\">Voice of the Young and Care Experienced \u2013 Listen to me<\/em>.\u00a0Established in 2017, is an independent charity organization that helps to advocate for the approximately 6000 children with care\u00a0experience (children in foster or whanau care) in New Zealand. They exist to amplify the voices of these children and ensure that they are heard \u2013 so as to positively influence their individual care and to collectively affect change in the wider care system. VOYCE was co-designed by children with care experience for children with care experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong class=\"\">If you are moved by Elana\u2019s efforts and the youth she hopes to inspire<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/voyce.org.nz\/donate\/\" class=\"\">please donate to VOYCE\u00a0<\/a>Add a note with your donation about Elana\u2019s inspiring Figure 8 journey so she knows you were moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If her global solo sailing and needs to keep Windfolo in tip-top shape are what move you \u2013 you can really help by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/peregrinasails.com\/support-us(opens%20in%20a%20new%20tab)\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">supporting Elana here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Follow Elana on Instagram \u2013 let her know you found her via Sail Sport Talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If\u00a0<strong class=\"\">Tall Ships<\/strong>\u00a0are what move and groove you \u2013 consider supporting the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritofadventure.org.nz\/voyages\/voyage\/10-day-development\" class=\"\">Spirit of New Zealand.<\/a>\u00a0Add a personal note with your donation about Elana\u2019s inspiring Figure 8 journey so she knows you were inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Solo sailor\u00a0Elana Connor has been\u00a0stuck in New Zealand since March 2020 due to COVID and the governments strenuous effort to contain the spread of the virus. She was so sailing\u00a0traveling the globe\u00a0with her best friend, Zia \u2014 a small spaniel mix and rescue dog on her beloved craft Windfola. She made landfall in New Zealand in December, 2019, but could not continue on to the Indian Ocean this year as planned because foreign ports in lock down would not accept her craft \u2013 so she has resolved to make very good use of her time by advocating for foster youth… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129,121,226,278,3],"tags":[289,288,294,47,291,292,28,287],"class_list":["post-2053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-covid-19","category-unorganized-sport","category-south-beach-yacht-club","category-tall-ships","category-the_show","tag-auckland","tag-barquentine","tag-elana-connor","tag-new-zealand","tag-saiing","tag-solo","tag-south-beach-yacht-club","tag-spirit-of-new-zealand"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/elanaziaprofilepiccropped.png?fit=1958%2C1949&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2053"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2272,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053\/revisions\/2272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}