Sailing Solo Around the Arctic Ocean - Ella Hibbert
I’ve been following Ella Hibbert, better known as Ella in the Arctic, and her remarkable attempt to become the first person to sail single-handed around the Arctic Ocean.I was delighted to have the chance to talk to her for the SheHelms Sailing Podcast, while she was in Nome, Alaska, preparing to leave her boat Yeva there for another Arctic winter.Ella’s journey into sailing is fascinating in itself. She began her career working with horses, training racehorses in Australia and Olympic dressage horses in Germany, before changing direction and becoming an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor.We talk about her exciting passage through the Northwest Passage, including an electrical fire, equipment failures, running aground in poorly charted waters and the enormous challenge of managing sleep while navigating through ice alone.But there are wonderful moments too. Ella describes encounters with polar bears and narwhals, and one unforgettable night when the Northern Lights filled the sky while phosphorescence glowed in the water around Yeva.We also discuss the changing Arctic environment, why sea ice prevented her from completing the Northeast Passage this year, and her determination to return and finish the circumnavigation.And, of course, we talk about her experiences as a woman working professionally in sailing.What I particularly enjoyed about our conversation was Ella’s openness about the things that have gone wrong, the lessons she’s learned and the decisions she’s had to make along the way.There’s a great deal here for all of us to learn from, whatever sailing ambitions we might have.Welcome aboard!If you enjoy the conversation, please subscribe to the SheHelms YouTube channel. Every subscriber helps us reach more people and share the stories of women from across the sailing world.You can also listen on your favourite podcast app.About SheHelms SailingI’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.SheHelms is a free, women-only sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcast, monthly Zooms, Book Club, learning resources and our online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing and life at sea.⚓ Join the SheHelms Community — it’s free❤️ Support the Podcast & Help Keep SheHelms Free⛵ Sailing Training, Mentoring & Professional Skippering with JoJoYou can also help SheHelms grow by subscribing to our YouTube channel and sharing the podcast with another woman who sails or would like to.YouTube | Instagram | FacebookElla HibbertElla Hibbert is a British sailor and RYA Yachtmaster Instructor attempting to become the first person to sail single-handed around the Arctic Ocean aboard her steel yacht, Yeva.Her route into professional sailing was far from conventional. After a career working with racehorses in Australia and Olympic dressage horses in Germany, an injury led her back to sailing. She went on to gain her RYA qualifications and become a Yachtmaster Instructor at just 25.Fascinated by the Arctic and the history of the Northwest Passage, Ella decided to turn that interest into an extraordinary sailing project.Having successfully navigated the Northwest Passage from east to west, she is now working towards completing her circumnavigation via the Northeast Passage, while drawing attention to the changing Arctic environment and the impact of climate change.Find out more about Ella This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shehelms.substack.com
