An interview with Jenny Decker about her solo circumnavigation
by David Schmidt 10 Oct 2024 16:00 BST
October 10, 2024
Jenny Decker aboard her 1984 Bristol 35.5 C, which she is sailing around the world alone to raise awareness about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease © Jenny Decker
Sailing alone around the world is a serious physical and mental challenge for anyone, but for Jenny Decker, an American sailor and professional nurse who suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, the adventure is an even bolder mission. Decker, now 40, was diagnosed with CMT—a hereditary neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nerves that deliver commands to one's feet, legs, hands, and arms—when she was a teenager, but she has long refused to back down in the face of this currently incurable and progressive disease.
As a child, Decker's delayed reflexes and inability to walk triggered her doctors to incorrectly diagnosis her with cerebral palsy. She fortunately received a surgery at the Shriners Hospital, in St. Louis, Missouri, that helped correct her tendons and enabled her to walk, but this sadly didn't stave off any of the underlying problems that CMT causes, including hand tremors and falls.
Flash forwards several decades, and Decker set sail from Hawaii alone aboard her 1984 Bristol 35.5 C for an around-the-world adventure, which she termed "Just a Lap", with the goals of raising awareness about CMT, inspiring others, and of helping to raise funds that will support the CMT Research Foundation and, hopefully, someday help to unlock a cure.
Decker knows that, in time, this voyage will be impossible, so her goal is to achieve her dream while her body still allows for serious offshore sailing. She estimates that her journey will take three years and will involve ports of call in almost 30 countries.
While her journey is technically a solo experience, she is sailing with Romeo, her six-pound Maltese Yorkie, who no doubt adds comfort, comic relief, and company during long passages.
I checked in with Decker, via email, to learn more about her adventure and her attempt to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person with CMT to solo circumnavigate our lonely planet.
Can you please tell us about your sailing background and experience prior to this huge adventure?
It was quite minimal, actually. I learned by sailing with friends in smaller vessels and joined sailing clubs. I tried to join and partake in any activity involving absorbing knowledge about the ocean such as an outrigger canoe club, open-ocean swimming events, obtained my divemaster, open-ocean kayaking, commercial-fishing job in Alaska, etc.
The sailing was surprisingly the easier part. Learning to navigate, take care of a vessel on my own (engine, plumbing, electrical, rigging, etc.), and learning weather was more of the challenge. It was all like a foreign language to me.
I bought a boat in Florida and learned more about short passages, cruising, anchoring, boat maintenance, navigating hazards, and testing out if I could truly withstand the task of being at sea alone.
The Bahamas was a great teaching ground for the basics while also adding in extreme weather at times. Prior to leaving Hawaii I had never even done an overnight sail alone.
When I departed Hawaii in June 2023 on "Just a Lap" my first passage of 1,200 miles (10 days at sea to Kiribati) would be my longest ocean passage solo. Furthermore, I had actually never even done an overnight passage alone.
What about solo sailing? When did you start sailing offshore alone?
I truly believe every person should experience a solo challenge. Something that pushes you to your brink mentally and physically. You never truly know what you are capable of until you only have yourself to make it through. It provides an inner love and strength everyone should have the blessing of experiencing in their lifetime.
When out to sea in the middle of the Pacific there is no rescue. There is no one to call for help. I am not saying you should go to that extreme, but a "test" where you can depend on yourself and trust yourself. Where your only option to survive something is to rely on you. It has been the most rewarding and self-love thing I have ever done.
What inspired you to sail around the world? Also, where did the Guinness Book of World Records attempt fit into the picture?
In 2016, I became the first person to solo kayak around the Big Island of Hawaii to raise research money for CMT disease. It was 20 days, unsupported, of the most beautiful, terrifying adventure of my life...until "Just a Lap" lol.
After that trip I was already looking into ways to create more awareness for CMT and ways to inspire those with this disease, or any disability for that matter. I started sailing all of the time with my good friend JR...and the idea for Just a Lap transpired.
As a follow-on to that last question, how important is it for you to earn this record compared to the personal accomplishment of sailing alone around the world?
The record does not entice me. My entire goal is personal and to help bring CMT to light in the world so that we can raise money towards research for a cure.
I have learned over the past 7,000 miles solo however, that the impact of my journey has stretched a lot further than just the CMT community and that right there is worth way more than any record.
Can you please give us an overview of your intended routing? Also, how many stops do you plan to make?
I left Kona, Hawaii in June of 2023. I am over 7,000 miles in solo. Countries visited thus far Kiribati, American Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia. I will stop in nearly 25 countries and approx 20,000 miles.
I am currently in Biak, Indonesia departing to Sorong today (Monday, October 7). I will make my way through Indonesia and set myself up for an Indian Ocean crossing around June [2025], round the cape of Africa, through the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and back to Hawaii.
To date, what have been the highlights (or "high-tide moments") of your solo circumnavigation?
The highlights have been these past few months of being completely disconnected and off-grid in small primitive villages. These moments experiencing what these villagers do for survival and how happy they are with minimal things has been truly eye opening. I have become family with some of them. We may speak a different language, look different, see things differently but when there is kindness, joy, and love every human can connect no matter their background.
What about the "low-tide" moments? Can you please tell us about a couple of the challenges that you've had to over come on this trip?
Finances for sure is the hardest thing about this entire trip. It takes a lot to keep a boat in working order putting the miles under the keel I do in the conditions I do. Being so remote with no resources and no continued good flow of finances. I am actually going to have to put the boat up for a few months to go take a travel nurse assignment to be able to continue.
I am a very social, affectionate, and physical person. Being so far from my family and friends, with no contact at times, and just missing out on their lives in general is so hard to swallow at times. I actually lost the love of my life while on this trip because the distance and lack of ability to communicate just became too much. At times I feel I am losing so much that I hope it truly is worth it in the end. I think of that saying "Nothing truly easy is worth it" or something like that.
I have had amazing buddy boats that literally just come over and hug me when we arrive somewhere so I can have physical human contact. I get why solitary confinement is a punishment. I always say "solo but never alone" because I do feel the support and love from so many, but nothing can replace being in the actual presence of the ones you love.
Who enjoys sailing and the offshore life more—you or Romeo?
Haha, Romeo just relaxed and sleeps. He is a good sailor dog.
Is there anything else about your around-the-world adventure that you'd like to add, for the record?
This trip started out as a cause for the CMT community as an inspiration that you can truly do anything you put your mind to. Our hearts and minds are stronger than any physical attributes. As I continue on and experience this world in a way not most do, it keeps evolving. I keep evolving. My experiences, trials, successes, and hardships have changed my outlook on life forever. I cannot wait to see how it will continue to transform.
Editor's Note: For more information on Jenny Decker's Just a Lap circumnavigation effort, check out cmtrf.org/just-a-lap.