Heather Mia Breaux
Content Strategist ⚓️ Writer ☀️ Sailor
Sailing For Climate Change
Sometimes a good story just needs a long retelling. Here, we expand upon the preview published at ‘Lectronic Latitude to further illuminate the sailing portion of The Green Journey. Megan Routbort and Thomas Polo are green sailors - and sailing for a greener world.
San Francisco Sailors Doublehand the Caribbean 600
Skipper Nathalie Criou and co-skipper Bérénice Charrez, two San Francisco Bay sailors and friends of Latitude 38, met up in Antigua for the Caribbean 600 last week. According to the Royal Ocean Racing Club, organizing the 15th race edition in collaboration with Antigua Yacht Club, Envolée was the smallest boat in the race and one of only two doublehanded boats to finish.
Hans Henken to Represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics
The 49er team of Hans Henken and Ian Barrows are officially confirmed to represent Team USA at the Paris Olympic Games this summer. US Sailing declared winners in five of the Olympic sailing disciplines at the US Olympic Team Trials – Sailing, including Henken and Barrows, and women’s iQFOiL athlete Dominique Stater.
Wooden Boats for Vets
Retired veterans often face great difficulty reentering civilian life, from complex PTSD to feeling isolated and alone. I interviewed veterans onboard the brigantine Matthew Turner to illuminate the relief that recreational therapy brings to retired veterans.
San Francisco Patagonia Store Hosts Hōkūleʻa Crew
Held together by six miles of rope with no nuts, no bolts, and no screws, the Hōkūleʻa‘ is an oceangoing canoe tethered together by trust, tradition, and Polynesian culture. Several of the crew who arrived in San Francisco on September 24th assembled Wednesday night at a San Francisco Patagonia retail store to share stories about their experience as navigators with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and raise funds for their community at home in Hawaii, rebuilding after the fires.
The Ocean Race Grand Finale Includes San Francisco Bay Sailor Bérénice Charrez
July 1st 2023 concluded The Ocean Race, and I spoke with San Francisco Bay sailor Bérénice Charrez about her experience in the competition onboard VO65 Viva Mexico. Of note, The Ocean Race 2022-23 featured more female sailors than any of the previous events in the race’s 50-year history.
A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words
In this history deep dive, I take a look at how the art of tattoo is deeply linked to local cultures and languages. Follow along on the discovery journey from the art form’s early days to the cultural phenomenon it’s become today.
San Francisco Bay Sailor Joins Ocean Race Sprint Cup Team Viva México
San Francisco Bay sailor Bérénice Charrez joins The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint, set to advance to the next leg of the race on Thursday. We talk about life onboard and what’s on her mind as a scientist as she races.
Around the World in 29 Months
Meet Holly Williams sailor/surgeon extraordinaire who's dream race around the world was interrupted by the global pandemic: "The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is attitude!”
Engineering Change: Tanguy de Lamotte
Two-time Vendée Globe competitor, engineer, and climate activist Tanguy de Lamotte is launching a new venture with tech startup Candela in a mission to make electric powered boats.
Marie Duvernoy: Scientist, Writer, Sailor
Scientist, writer, and sailor Marie Duvernoy and her partner Yalcin Ozhabs describe their journey from Berkeley, California to France by sailboat, their organization and talent for calculating risks becomes clear. Not even the Covid19 pandemic can thwart their plans for a successful Panama Canal crossing, in the wrong direction.
Crissy Field - Kite Scene
I interview a few local groms (kids who windsurf) who picked up the explosively popular sport of winging on San Francisco bay. They take on some of the most intense flying conditions as their playground, calling the water beneath the Golden Gate Bridge the Himalayas due to the enormous waves.
Give a Bear a Chance
A 72 year old wooden San Francisco bear boat washes up on rocky shores after a storm - what do you do? KC Crowell chose to rescue the historic wooden sailboat and shares about the experience of rescuing a living piece of local maritime history.
The Mesopotamian Devil of Southerly Wind
Out of 400 race entrants, only 25 of them were female skippers in the 2021 Transpacific Race - I interview up-and-coming Southern California sailor Liz Hopkins who crewed in the 2021 race but has her eye on skippering her own boat Pazuzu in the next Transpacific competition.
Turning the Tide on Diversity
The data is in - thanks to The Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity Task Force, or TIDE report from the Intercollegiate Sailing Association - and the world of sailing needs to improve diversity and inclusion within the spot.
The AI Analytics of Pip Hare’s Vendée Globe
I interview Pip Hare, a solo female sailor from England after completing her first Vendée Globe race - solo circumnavigation with no outside assistance - in 84 days. Her ground crew and members of their Sausalito-based AI analytics sponsor Medallia describe the influence tech has on international racing world.
Mayday, Mayday
I documented rescue efforts made by good samaritans on the water at the Berkeley Marina in response to US Coast Guard mayday radio alert. I followed up with emergency fire and police teams to write up some breaking good news.
Petaluma Musicians Stage Impromptu Concerts
With music venues closed, Petaluma musicians have been performing for neighbors on front porches and driveways. I discovered a quasi-secret network of live music performances happening in Petaluma, California helping neighborhoods weather the isolation and changes brought by the pandemic.
