In 2009 I wasn’t in a great place. I was angry, in counseling, and generally trying to process life changes after a hard move. On a whim I joined a sailing team, and like so many, found fresh joy in being amongst the warm blue water of the Pacific.

After that initial introduction, I started sailing classes with Seamus Murphy at Rainbow Bay Marina. Sailing is an expensive sport, and if it weren’t for the classes offered by the military, I probably would have never gotten the chance to sail. Seamus built a fire in our bellies and happily stoked the dreams of his sailors, always quick with a word of encouragement and reminding us that we should aim for dreams beyond the horizon.

Key in the steady diet he fed us were two things: footage from the Volvo Ocean Race and the movie Morning Light. The latter of which covers the story of a group of young adults competing in one of yachting's premier offshore races—Transpac. It’s a race from California to Hawaii, 2,225 miles, based on an invitation from King Kalakaua in 1886, with the first race starting in 1906. It’s a fast-paced and grueling endurance test, and the thought of it immediately hooked me.

I taught sailing that year, but eventually moved off island and was kept from sailing by geography and the motions of life. In a very real way though, sailing became the place I felt most comfortable. If you’ve ever visited us or asked me how a sailboat works, you can attest to the glint I get in my eye when I pull out pen and paper and ask, “Do you know how an airplane wing works?”

After moving back on island 6 years ago, I started to teach again in my free time to hopefully share the excitement of sailing with others. Thanks to a great community, I’ve grown as a sailor, met all types of people, and continually been surprised and humbled by my students. But, I also came to understand just how difficult it’d be to execute my dream of competing in Transpac. The stars would need to align, they hadn’t for 14 years, and likely never would.

All that changed one Friday last year when I came across a flyer. The skipper, a retired F-18 pilot who uses his boat as a free outreach tool to serve and connect with the military community, was looking for crew. I was sailing on Trader the next day. Afterward, over beers and loud music, talk shifted to the history of the boat, their Transpac 2019 race, and the potential for the future. A go at the 2023 edition would be great, but the chances of a crew and boat coming together were distant, at best.

In 4 months 0 days 13 hours and 10 minutes, the 52nd iteration of this historic race begins, and folks, we’re going to be there on the starting line. We’re racing!

With the luxury of hindsight, it’s easy to see how a small choice back in 2009 led to the opportunity now in front of me. The stars have aligned and the door is open. We have a robust team and a strong boat, but we need your help to bring it home!

Unlike many boats our size we don’t have dedicated budgets and professional crew—we’re a small self-funded group of underdogs. And frankly, I’d like to ask you to join our team in a very real way with a contribution to my Transpac GoFundMe. Everything you give will go directly toward costs associated with training, maintenance, and the race. If we reach that goal, anything over will be shifted to help rest of the crew.

“There is no such thing as a ‘self-made man.’ We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the makeup of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.” Like any endeavor, getting to the starting line is half the battle. I know that any success we may have in training for, starting, and finishing the race will only come with the assistance of many. As you can probably imagine, I’m stoked at the thought of competing and also for the chance to share our journey with you all along the way.

Our race doesn’t officially kick off until July, but in a very real way, it’s already begun. Logistics, training, transit, safety, and tactics. Our team has swung into motion, so join us, and let’s race across the Pacific!