Donation protected
Since childhood in dry West Texas, I have dreamed of sailing across oceans. As a teenager reading Adlard Coles' book Heavy Weather Sailing, I put myself to sleep night after night one summer imagining the endurance and seamanship needed to survive some of the historic races he recounted.
Now, a few years from "retirement age", I am about to realize my dream to race across the Atlantic. After completing the 600-mile 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race aboard the Baltic 51 sloop High Note, I was invited back as crew for the 3000-mile 2025 Transatlantic Race.
The Transatlantic Race is co-organized by the New York Yacht Club and the Storm Trysail Club in the US, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club and Royal Yacht Squadron in the UK. It is considered sailing's greatest Corinthian – or amateur – challenge and departs Newport, RI on June 18, 2025, for England's south coast.
The race officially ends at the Royal Yacht Squadron's waterfront castle in Cowes, England, but a virtual gate off Lizard Point will enable teams to challenge the course record for this historic passage. This will be only the 32nd Transatlantic Race since 1866. For me, it is the challenge of a lifetime.
I have trained and worked on the boat throughout the winter and spring. Now is the time for launch, shakedown sail, safety drills, and practice races.
There are still a few pieces I need to put in place to ensure I am ready for the race – better offshore foul weather gear, newer safety gear, and travel to the start and from the finish. With just a few weeks until departure, I'm raising funds for these final preparations and hope that you can help me realize my dream to be fully prepared for this challenge.
I appreciate contributions of any amount to help make this journey possible. Every dollar brings me closer to the starting line of this historic race.
As a special thank you:
Anyone contributing $105 or more will receive a complimentary subscription to my Substack newsletter, "My Transatlantic Race ", where I'll share reflections, observations and photos through the eyes of a sailor who loves racing most for the camaraderie and the physical and mental challenge. I'll throw in dash of culture and independent politics too, cause that's my take on life generally. Angels contributing $500 or more will get special recognition in a dedicated post.
Join me for the full experience from training through the finish line!
Thank you for helping transform this lifelong dream into reality!
Organizer

Sara Burke
Organizer
Staten Island, NY