Day 15: Land-oh!!!!

A major challenge I really never thought I would do, I completed on Wednesday at 13:00 Antigua time, after 15 days at sea, 2200 nautical miles and 3200 nautical miles total from Lanzarote.

Crossing an ocean on a sailing vessel is something that has been done for hundreds of years. People have crossed on boats, windsurfers, kiteboards, drifted across on barrels and two young chaps even drifted two cars full of expanding foam across.

The passage is long but it's done by thousands each year.

With that said it's also dangerous and is a serious undertaking. Doing it solo increases the risk significantly but I felt I had the skills, passion and desire to give it a go… and I did.

My purpose was to understand the feelings and mental impact of being alone. Being with your own thoughts, day after day while pushing your body and mind to the limits.

Lack of sleep, exhaustion, emotional loneliness are all real and obstacles to be overcome.

While I set out with these goals I ended up learning more about the world, myself and my relationship with Sophie and my friendship with all my friends than I ever thought possible.

On my second night, January 25th I was called on to assist with a migrant raft rescue… somewhere between 60 and 300 people were saved that night.

Seeing these people in the water, fleeing a world and a home of insecurity made me change my global and political views almost instantly. While the events happened on my second day at sea from Lanzarote, it remains my biggest take away from this entire passage.

We all share the ocean and we all share the world… everyone just wants a good life. A job, the feeling of being valued, happiness, family and friends. That's what everyone wants: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The rest of my trip was learning how to work through those emotions, as I also learned of the situation in Ukraine.

I am blessed to have completed this trip safely and successfully. It has made me grow as a person and hopefully a global community member.

But no solo trip is ever solo. I relied on a team to support me.

If you get a minute, message these people and congratulate them as well… they won't get enough of that and they deserve it….

Sophie was my rock biggest supporter. I can't thank her enough!

Steven Lancaster, my oldest friend is always there on passage for me. He was amazing in helping me work through the trauma I had after the raft rescue. I am lucky to call him my friend…. I also take stock in knowing I'm a faster runner than him

Andy Schell from 59 North Sailing, is my mentor on many levels. He is always there to discuss an idea and he always gives it to me straight.

Mia Karlsson from 59 North and Nikki Henderson. Mia is Andy's wife and is simply an amazing woman, I always feel calm and comfortable around Mia. Nikki is a legend. I really enjoy how she and I sat and shared thoughts and feelings before we left.

These two were crossing the ocean at the same time. We shared emails, positions, stories. It was great to have others out there.

Bryan Marsh (W Le Petit Bateau Bleu au Coeur Fringant) is another solo sailor and a legend. No one will ever understand the support that man gave me in cape Verde.

And my parents Mary Ellison and Greg Ellison they never ask questions, just support.

Thanks to everyone else for the emails, notes of encouragement, and everything. You're all amazing. I'll spend the next weeks resting and figuring out what's next.

Until then, try to live by my new motto…. explore humanity!!