WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CAPTAIN DONNA LANGE? From the Executive Director OceansWatch North America CARIBBEAN TOUR
CARIBBEAN TOUR UPDATES Amazing success as the OW boat sailed through the islands developing projects, meeting locals and sailors. Join the OW projects on a boat as a volunteer or plan to meet up at one of the destinations. Antigua, St Maarten, BVI, Dominican Republic and on to the Panama towards NZ. Where we meet needs by sea. For present projects in the Caribbean and around the world, www.oceanswatch.org/north-america. See the volunteer pages, Haiti and all that you can do.
OW Members and founders 'Sailors Without Borders' Cameron and Leighia head off to Haiti in 3 weeks. Collecting supplies in east Florida area....email donna@oceanswatch.org to help gather med, food, solar solutions supplies. Contact Me: donna@oceanswatch.org Facebook: Donna Lange Skype: inspiredinsanity
CAPTAIN D AND PEANUT ISLAND Newest Captain D story by Captain Donna Lange and Bonnie Blue HOLIDAY VISIT by NONI... with OYSTER (Bonnie's Pijon/Spaniel puppy)
Where in the World is Captain Donna? Writing Children's books with Illustrator Bonnie Blue "Captain D and Wise Mother Ocean" is in print!!! The first in a series of books to be written by Captain Donna Lange, illustrated by Bonnie Blue. Donna tells tales of her journey while teaching environmental values with practical activities to take action to CARE. It includes a narration CD with the song "For the Love of Oceans". CDWMO can be purchased by check or paypal through Bonnie's website, www.healingdolphin.com. An ebook version is available.
CAPTAIN D AND WISE MOTHER OCEAN AVAILABLE
By Neil Vangundy after 4 years of dedication to my Journey... :
Donna joins the ranks of a very few elite sailors of the world as the fastest American woman to single handedly circumnavigate the globe and in a 28-foot sailboat named after her state of mind, Inspired Insanity.With only 2 stops in the southern hemisphere, Opua, New Zealand and Puerto Williams, Chile (around the corner from Cape Horn), and a total of 290 days at sea, she completed her circumnavigation on May 16th 2007.
Donna’s story started with a tragic life-changing event in 1998.It so dismembered her existence that she left behind all that she knew.The sea was to be her mentor for a new life.A place where she could search for answers.Repeatedly being tested against extreme odds, her inner strength and physical stamina has overcome countless ocean battles in horrific conditions.Donna was tested by weather once again in April of 2007 in an epic Nor'Easter that pummeled the east coast requiring every ounce of her mental and physical endurance.She says her mind became clear and free after her boat nearly rolled over in the sea.It marked a new beginning.With that turning point, we have a new Donna Lange.With her comes a huge purpose and a huge responsibility.
Thank you Donna Lange for letting us watch you grow and sharing your inspiration and your music.You’ve seen things out there that we can barely imagine or comprehend.It’s your time to share what you’ve learned about life and death and the world we live in.
Log update: November 5th, 2009 A spectacular season, successful boatshows, A miraculous first Book!!! Bob and I are just arriving in Palm Beach, Florida delivering Veritas, the 52' Legacy power yacht he skippers. We had a challenging but good trip on his 44'Little Harbor, Calypso to Charleston, SC. Still a bit of trouble with the autopilot and a good storm but all good. I head back north on Saturday to get my car for the last leg of my transition south to Florida for the season. I'll spend a few days with my kids and grandkids then head south making stops at Seven Seas Cruising Stations and to visit friends. Bonnie Blue along with the support of Bob and My Mother's capital, has created a miracle. Captain D and Wise Mother Ocean is in print. During the summer of 2008, while skippering for Stu in NY, the vision to tell my story through children's books gained focus and I wrote the first drafts for 7 books devoted to topics on enviromental consciousness, activities and action based values. In the stories, Miss Donna is a mermaid in the sea surrounded by her ocean friends. Wise Mother Ocean comes to Miss D and askes her to become a sailor on the sea to be an ambassador for the sea. Each story takes place along my sail around the world, brings out an environmental concern as well as teaches advocacy with practical ways children can help. The books end by leading to Youth4Oceans.pnn for more advocacy learning and writiing skill lessons. Each book is narrated and has the song "For the Love of Oceans'. I am hoping to get a children's CD of songs together along the way. Yes, Yes, Yes...You can buy a book or CD!! Click here.
My online classes at the University of Phoenix have begun. The courses are terrific, the topics absolutely relevant; Health Care organization administration- timely with the debate over health reform. In fact I am investiing way too much time as I am so interested in the topic. The research is fascinating is nothing printed or pubicized on TV is accurate. It isn't until you get down to the real statistics that any good decision can be made as to how to best support the countries populations to become healthy and have care. The issues are so much more about social behaviors than the actual delivery of medical care. So... busy. I spend hours a day now, but will have to streamline my investigations once we fiinish this delivery and I get on to working. I have my Florida Nursing license now so will look for work once situated. There may be some hope to find a captain job...we'll see. OceansWatch had a great season. We have been networking heavily at both the Norwalk Boatshow and Annapolis boatshow and I will continue as I head south visiting the Seven Seas Cruising Association folks. Joan Conover was a marvelous host whiile I was in Annapolis and also visited Bob and I in Hampton on a delilvery stop saying hi to all now sailing to the Caribbean with the Carib 1500 Rally. Steve Black and Davis Murray do a great job. Good Samaritan Foundatin of Haiti has been able to get an incredible Film together of their Christmas delivery of outboard engines and other supplies via sailboats to Ile La Vache ... The incredible leadership by Michael Gardner and through Jean Phelix Joseph in Haiti is working. The plans to build the first school and medical center are coming together. Through the sponsorship by the Rotary in Tortolla, many amazing projects are going forward. OW is working alongside to help raise awareness, funding and then to help facilitate the projects through the cruising community. I am planning another trip to Haiti and the DR this spring, hoping to go on a sailboat from the Caribbean, bringing plans for the OW santitation project to create a composting toilet based system. So much to do!!!! Life is grande...so grande I am pressing hard on every front.
Moving on....I have been making some decisions for moving forward. The need to focus has brought me to some new tactics for my world. To effectively help to build Oceanswatch and a career in nursing I have chosen to apply to enroll in a master's program in nursing and administration. It will get me moving forward developing the organizational skills to manage OW and all the other projects I have before me...speaking, writing and performing as well as give me the practical nursing skills to facilitate medical works for OW projects. I won't be leaving the sea, but for now, captain work is pretty scarce.
Location: SV_Inspired Insanity is out of the water for the season. For a time, I need to focus without concern for II. She will be safe and sound until I can regroup to give her a proper refit of the living spaces or possibly find a someone with a dream to sail the world who would like to own her. For upcoming OW work in the islands, I will need a larger and faster little ship that can lead flotillas and carry more supplies. Sequoia is completing a refit to his own 36' sloop, Nepenthe, as well. It will all come together. "Keepin On Keepin On Keepin On Caring...for all of you as you care for me, making this world a positive place to be in..." Let's keep in touch.
The Haiti/DR full length story has its own page... Check out OceansWatch NorthAmerica!!!! JOIN TODAY.. Oceanswatch will have a booth at the Norwalk Boatshow September 24-27. Oceanswatch lead ship, SV_Schooner Dolphin will be featured at the boatshow as she is being refit at the Norwalk Marina where the show will be. She is nearing completion of the rebuild and ready to launch soon. You can enjoy a "tour of Schooner Dolphin". all the reports, new projects... EXCITING days and great OceansWatch experiences to be had by all who will give of their time to CARE.....!!!
The Students of Ecole Good Samaritan in La Hatte, Ile la Vache, Haiti
Donna with key leaders, the Committee for Development in Ile La Vache, Haiti
A solar oven to reduce the use of charcoal for cookiing.. the deforestation of the island has had devastating effects on erosion of the precious soil.
This trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic has become one of the most life changing experiences of my life. It is as if life has taken me up on my offer to 'care' and exposed me to so much I had never had a capacity to see or know. But now is the time to open my eyes. see the Present Update for full story
A Must Read "ONE....A face behind the number" written by 33 yr old Vaden Earle...a photo journal of his trip of the world...If there was a time in history when OceansWatch is needed, it is now in the Caribbean. see present update for OceansWatch team letter. www.absolute.org
Jean Phelix and I on Ile La Vache...
SAILIING THE WORLD: Join Donna on this fabulous journey to
love and peace sailing the worlds most challenging oceans solo. Revisit Donna's solo sail around the world, her actual logs, day by day, are in the archives, RI -NZ, NZ- RI. Read Donna's story,
the preparation of her boat and meet
her amazing dedicated team, music jams, an incredible world of
incredible people along the way. View her photo galleries.
This epic experience was life changing for Donna and her hope is that
it will be an encouragement to you in your life's journey.
Click on one of the songs below and enjoy Donna's music while you browse her site.
"Inspired Insanity and I 6 days and nights from Norfolk VA to Palm Beach Fl A long coastal sail, cold, a gale, 20-30min watches, decidedly not a fun sail solo but breathtaking none the less. Recovering...sleep? Log and updates...page for the 'whole story' ...biggest hugs...
Donna Lange and Inspired Insanity were a feature Float in the 2007, 4th of July Parade in Bristol, RI. This parade is noted as being the very first Parade ever in the USA. Over 250,000 people lined the streets as they are trailered down the street by Brownell System's sponsored tractor and trailer.
CONGRATULATIONS DONNA FOR PRESENTATIONS MADE IN BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND APRIL 28, 2007
House Resolution: proclaming April 28, 2007, "Donna Lange Day in the State of Rhode Island" by Representative Douglas Gabinske
Special commendation, Town of Bristol - artwork for a plaque commemorating Captain Donna Lange's courageous sail, Presented by Diane Mederos, Town Administrator
Golden Circle Award presented by Commodore Ted Jones of the Joshua Slocum Society Southern Cross Owners Association Honorary Life Membership presented by Vice Commodore Jack Walsh
National Women's Sailing Association Special Certificate from the by Susan Daly
International Association of Cape Horners Five year membership in the by Jane Pares
