There are some travellers who wander.
Some who explore.
And then there are those who deliberately choose the hardest possible path — simply to see what they’re made of.
Today’s Travel With Us A While guest, Mara, firmly belongs in that last category.
When we sat down to chat, Mara was speaking to me from her sailboat in Gibraltar, surrounded by tools, half-finished refits and big, bold dreams. She’s preparing for the Golden Globe Race — a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world using only technology available in 1968.
No GPS.
No autopilot.
No Starlink.
No Navionics.
Just a sextant, a compass, paper charts — and a very steady mind.
A Journey That Wouldn’t Let Go
Mara grew up in Norway, but for the past four years she’s been sailing the world as part of Sailing Ripple Effect — a project built on the idea that sailors reach places few others ever do, and therefore carry a responsibility to give something back.
Along the way, Mara and her crew delivered humanitarian aid, offered medical help (with a doctor on board), shared practical education, and quietly supported communities in places like Vanuatu, where the effects of Western waste and limited resources are deeply felt.
When that chapter began to close, Mara found herself asking the same question many long-term travellers face:
What now?
The answer arrived fully formed — the Golden Globe Race 2026 — and once the idea took hold, it refused to let go.
Meet the Boat: Showgirl
Mara’s race boat is a Saltram Saga 36, previously known as Talisman of Plymouth, now proudly renamed Showgirl.
She wasn’t the easiest choice. Other boats were already prepped and race-ready, but they didn’t feel right to her. And when you’re about to spend seven to nine months alone at sea, feeling at home matters.
From the moment Mara stepped aboard, she knew.
“I’m going to be stuck on this boat for months. I need to feel good here. I need to feel at home.”
That instinct will be tested thoroughly — first with a 4,000 nautical mile solo qualifying sail, starting shortly.
From Morocco, past the Canaries, Cape Verde, and across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, Mara will sail non-stop and alone.
And yes — she’ll be live-streaming the entire crossing, 24/7.
The Route Around the World
When the race itself begins in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, Mara will follow a legendary path:
- Down past the Canary Islands
- West toward Brazil
- East and under South Africa
- Across the Southern Ocean
- A brief stop in Hobart, Tasmania (where I’ll be waving from the shore 👋)
- South of New Zealand
- Around Cape Horn
- And back to France
Seven to nine months. Alone. No modern navigation aids. No stepping ashore. No contact.
Just her, Showgirl, and the ocean.
Why This Matters
What struck me most about Mara isn’t just her courage — it’s her clarity.
She understands the mental challenge of navigating without certainty. The humility required when you don’t quite know where you are. The patience of celestial navigation. The discipline of self-reliance.
And she understands that adventure doesn’t end at achievement — it extends into responsibility.
Mara is already thinking beyond the race, exploring ways to help more sailors give back meaningfully to the communities they visit. Whether the Golden Globe changes her path entirely remains to be seen — but whatever comes next, it will be intentional.
Sail On, Mara
This conversation reminded me why I love these stories.
Why sailing changes us.
Why the hardest journeys often give the greatest gifts.
If you’ve ever dreamed of crossing an ocean — or wondered what life might look like without a screen telling you exactly where you are — this episode is for you.
Bon voyage, Mara.
We’ll be watching, learning, and cheering you on — one sextant reading at a time.
Listen to the full podcast here:
