Donna Lange departs NZ for Cape Horn and Home
by Jane Pares and Will Barbeau on 29 Nov 2006
Donna Lange leaving Opua - bound for Cape Horn Angie Deister
Accompanied by a boatload of cheering friends, Donna Lange, the 'singing grandmother,' resumed the second half of her epic solo circumnavigation after a seven month stay in New Zealand. She sailed out of Opua in the Bay of Islands on November 21st, on her 28 foot Southern Cross, Inspired Insanity.
Her triumphant departure differed starkly from her unnoticed sail out of Portsmouth, Rhode Island on 11 November, 2005. The last person to wave her ‘goodbye’ was journalist Bruce Burdett of the Sakonnet Times, as he photographed her boat sailing under Mt. Hope Bridge.
During her stay in New Zealand, her boat was extensively repaired and refitted by herself and many generous Kiwi friends who pulled out the stops to help her prepare for this leg. The Inspired Insanity that left New Zealand was much better equipped than the one that arrived seven months ago. Donna originally set sail from Rhode Island (USA) with what she could afford - which wasn’t much. Her only communications tool was a donated satellite telephone, with limited pre-paid minutes; a friend, Tom Outman, phoned in weather predictions from his post in Florida and she responded with her current position, which Tom forwarded to web site manager Neil Van Gundy in Iowa for posting on her web site.
Thanks to new sponsors, Global Marine Network www.globalmarinenet.net and Xaxero www.xaxero.com, Donna has extensively updated her navigation systems – and now has the latest automatic satellite location equipment and weather faxes, along with email and iridium phone. She will be feeding daily reports to her website, www.donnalange.com, including information on her course, boat speed, air temperature, wind speed and direction, wave height and weather. Her current position will be illustrated on a global chart. Her website is visited daily by thousands following her journey.
Donna’s course will take her east across the Southern Ocean, round the infamous Cape Horn and north up the east coast of South America, through the Caribbean and finally home to Rhode Island on the East Coast of the US. '12,428 miles, but there is that 20% I have to add for ‘not going in a straight line.' There will be little time for rest in this very demanding environment.
On her first leg to New Zealand Donna followed a simple routine for packing food: two cans each of fruit, veggies and meat per day, staples of oatmeal and rice plus treats such as peanut butter, jam, spices, powdered milk with tea and coffee. She also took onions, garlic, crackers, dried fruit and nuts. She found this diet nutritionally insufficient - depleting her immune system and leaving her undernourished, lacking in energy and with a weight loss problem. She had to completely re-think her food supplies for the homeward leg.
She now has only one can of each food per day; her new staples include oats, quinoa, millet, with more dried fruits and nuts; she has New Zealand honey, onions and garlic, plus plenty of chocolate and herbal teas including loose valerian and chamomile. New sponsors include Lifestream International Ltd, who donated nutritional supplements such as Spirolina, a mega high vitamin green organism and Astra Zan, to protect her body from UV damage. As she put it, 'I am planning to get really healthy over the next five months.'
One of the driving forces in Donna’s life is to inspire others to reach out towards their full potential and during her stay in New Zealand she lectured and sang to a wide assortment of yacht clubs, women’s groups, industrial associations, cafes and musical venues who were all inspired by her zest for life. She plans to continue to be available for talks after her return to land next year.
Jane Pares New Zealand and Will Barbeau in the US
jane.pares@internationalmarine.co.nz wbarb@cox.net
For: Donna Lange at Sea www.donnalange.com
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From Donna 'Everywhere I look on the boat I see the work of so many people. My Heartfelt Thanks to -'
Angie Deister, who owns The Mokaba Cafe in Whangarei Town Basin, has been a huge sponsor and support to me, providing an endless stream of useful items to make my world aboard more comfortable and safe, helping practically on the boat as well as with funding and most importantly just being my friend.
Bob McDavitt, (Metservice NZ) for his very generous help with weather info and free consultations
Bruce Burdett, of the Sakonnet Times in Rhode Island
Capehorn Steering Vanes, www.capehorn.com
Chris and Julia Bone, and all at Mamaki for tremendous support and helping hands.
Danny Stevens, leant his healing touch and message therapy to aid my physical recovery as well as helping me get mobile with a set of wheels.
David Lowes Marine Services , was generous with his time repairing the engine Dave.Lowes@xtra.co.nz
Dianna Dreanan, the Plumbers Distributors Association of NZ
Dion Rogers, for his musical camaraderie, dinghy sailing and help with woodwork on the boat
Dogs Bollicks, who offered paying gigs in the Irish tavern amidst Irish dancers.
Don Vicars, an H-28 owner living in Opua has driven me all over the place, leant tools and called every day in case I needed a lift.
Fatty Goodlander, roving editor for Cruising World www.cruisingworld.com
Forrest Hill Physiotherapy Centre for providing complimentary visits for re-hab on my back injury www.forresthillphysio.co.nz
Global Marine Net sponsorship with the necessary software to access weather information via the web and email via the iridium phone, as well as providing vessel tracking with www.globalmarinenet.net
Halcyon Properties, Inc - Iridium Satellite phone and software with a solar charging system.
Italian Maritime Mobile Net
Jack and Carol Rogers sponsored me with a new battery
Jack Stanley of Stanley Marine who was always so helpful
Jane Pares for her writing / PR skills
Jason in New Zealand
Keith in Rhode Island
Lane and Kay Finley of Clean Wake Productions www.cleanwakeproductions.com
Legge Boat Builders and Port Supply - good advice for the bow repair, free bits and pieces and good discounts on the caulks and other supplies needed to repair the bow and other projects.
Lifestream International Ltd, New Zealand has kindly come on board with nutritional supplements for the next leg. They have offered two bottles of AstaZan 90 for sunburn protection, a powerful antioxidant and muscle recovery support and two bottles of Spirulina T1000 tablets for energy and the immune system. www.lifestream.co.nz
Martin’s Flag Co Inc. Fort Dodge, Iowa Flag and accessories www.martinsflag.com
Mike and Virginia who set me up to buy Inspired Insanity
Milford Cruising Club on Auckland’s North Shore adopted me, hauling Inspired Insanity out and putting her in their yard for nothing.
MTI Adventure Wear have taken on the task of keeping me dry and warm on the Cape Horn leg with several Palm Dry suits for the foul weather ahead www.mtiadventurewear.com
Musical venues in Whangarei – especially REVA's and Frings Tavern. Thank you to Dennis Fring, as contacts made in his tavern meant I was featured in the local Sunday glossy magazine insert.
My family with all their support and love especially my brother who gave me the original down payment
My Mom and Ernie Moore for finances and for managing the Home Team and loving support
Neil Vangundy for his tireless masterminding of my website
Ness Nor
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