This "virgin" expedition becomes my 6 months trial by water. It will be the first ever recorded Canadian solo sailing voyage setting sail single-handedly from around Montreal on the St. Lawrence River, navigating a gruelling 6 months - 7,000 -nautical-mile odyssey along the wild, unforgiving coastlines of Northern Labrador, traversing the Northwest Passage, around Alaska and then south to beautiful Vancouver, arriving in the spring of 2028. Whilst only three other sailors over the age of 65 (Erkan Gursoy, André Speet and David Scott Cowper) have ever successfully solo sailed the Northwest Passage, they did however not sail this Canadian route East to West, i.e. Montreal to Vancouver.
My 2027 route through the Amundsen Gulf was shaped by the incredibly gracious guidance of my elder mentor, David Scott Cowper, widely regarded as one of the greatest maritime explorers of our time. To benefit from his immense expertise is a profound privilege. His legendary grit, unparalleled seamanship, and pioneering spirit—having been the first to conquer this passage solo—are a constant inspiration. His invaluable wisdom has not only guided my course but deeply shaped my respect for the sea. Thank you, David, for taking the time and chatting with me about my upcoming elder solo expedition 2027. Your kind and extraordinary mentorship will be cherished.
With only my loyal dog Lucy as my crew and companion, I will face the endless open waters alone, proving that grey hair (or in my case, baldness) is a badge of courage and honor, not a white flag of surrender. All or nothing baby!!!
This is raw. This is real. This is an elder life without a safety net. This is not a vacation, this is reckoning. This journey demands every ounce of my physical strength and spiritual endurance. It is a raw test of preparation and a masterclass in humility before our Elder Mother Earth. I am undertaking this to show the world that elders are not only passive observers of life—but that we are strong, we are sharp, and we have mountains left to climb and oceans left to navigate. We are capable of radical growth, and our greatest chapters can still be written. We are still here, and we have so much more to give. We are a force to be reckoned with!!!
