Elana Connor's guest appearances

Elana Connor

Out The Gate Sailing

Broad Reach Radio - The Yachting New Zealand Podcast

Phil Robertson

Peter Montgomery

Ryan Foland

Michael Robertson

Rebecca Shaw

John Cutler

Ben Shaw

Tom Saunders

Dave Austin

Graeme Sinclair

David McGuire

Ryan Nelson

Glenn Ashby

John Neal

John Arndt

OwlTail

Elana Connor’s story is a remarkable and powerful one. Born into a violent family where she feared for her life, she ran away from home as a teenager and bounced around foster homes until she reached 18 and was told to fend for herself. By accident, she discovered sailing and it’s given her purpose and direction. Elana arrived in New Zealand at the end of 2019 as she circumnavigated the globe and has been here ever since. She’s now close to finishing a figure eight of New Zealand and along the way has been casting light on the 6000 children in care and raising money for them to participate in a Spirit of New Zealand adventure. It’s a programme that is gaining traction and momentum and Elana would love nothing more than to see this develop into something much broader. Elana tells her amazing story on this podcast, from the trauma of her childhood and seemingly hopeless situation she found herself in, to suddenly sailing solo around the world. She talks about the challenges she’s faced along the way, including being in New Zealand when Covid-19 hit, the impact her journey around the country has had so far, what Kiwis, including yacht clubs, can do to make sailing more inclusive and how she’s been able to rebuild her own life.

Elana Connor’s story is a remarkable and powerful one. Born into a violent family where she feared for her life, she ran away from home as a teenager and bounced around foster homes until she reached 18 and was told to fend for herself. By accident, she discovered sailing and it’s given her purpose and direction. Elana arrived in New Zealand at the end of 2019 as she circumnavigated the globe and has been here ever since. She’s now close to finishing a figure eight of New Zealand and along the way has been casting light on the 6000 children in care and raising money for them to participate in a Spirit of New Zealand adventure. It’s a programme that is gaining traction and momentum and Elana would love nothing more than to see this develop into something much broader. Elana tells her amazing story on this podcast, from the trauma of her childhood and seemingly hopeless situation she found herself in, to suddenly sailing solo around the world. She talks about the challenges she’s faced along the way, including being in New Zealand when Covid-19 hit, the impact her journey around the country has had so far, what Kiwis, including yacht clubs, can do to make sailing more inclusive and how she’s been able to rebuild her own life.

Ep 27 - Elana Connor

In part two of this two part interview, Elana Conner talks about sailing solo across the Pacific: what made her think she could accomplish it in the first place, what lessons she learned after she got out there, and why it’s made her feels more like herself than ever. We talk weather, electronics, and the frustrations of sailing in the wrong direction. Follow and support Elana at www.peregrinasails.com

In part two of this two part interview, Elana Conner talks about sailing solo across the Pacific: what made her think she could accomplish it in the first place, what lessons she learned after she got out there, and why it’s made her feels more like herself than ever. We talk weather, electronics, and the frustrations of sailing in the wrong direction. Follow and support Elana at <a href="http://www.peregrinasails.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.peregrinasails.com</a>

Elana Connor // Part 2: Finding Yourself, Alone, in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean - Ep. 37

As a child, Elana Conner lost both of her parents and spent her school years in foster care, hoping from family to family. She struggled, but managed to finish high school and then college. She learned to sail in San Francisco, less than a decade ago. But personal difficulties and strong mentors convinced her she needed to follow her dream of circumnavigating on her own boat sooner rather than later. She recently sailed across the pacific solo, arriving in New Zealand a little over a month ago. In this first of a two part interview, I speak with Elana about the challenges she’s overcome and how she learned to sail. Follow Elana at https://www.peregrinasails.com/ Here are ways you can support children in the foster care system: First, and most basic, when folks shop on Amazon, choose to shop at https://smile.amazon.com/ and choose a local foster care org or CASA chapter. For every purchase made, Amazon will give money to your org, and it adds up quickly! Foster Hope is the New Zealand base foster care organization Elana talks about in our interview - https://www.fosterhope.org.nz/ Together We Rise — https://www.togetherwerise.org/team-building/ — They have a number of programs, including opportunities for corporate team-building projects (like assembling bikes and skateboards, or backpacks). Become a resource family in SF to foster or adopt a child from the foster care system: https://sfcaresforkids.org/foster/ SF Foster Youth Fund — http://www.sffosteryouthfund.org/what-we-do/ — they provide funding and/or scholarships to allow children in foster care to have access to activities beyond the basics, like music lessons, summer camps, etc. CASA in California— https://www.californiacasa.org/ — CASA stands for Court-Appointed Special Advocate, and there is a CASA program in almost every district in the country, as well as a national advocacy organization. People who are interested in becoming a CASA go through a multi-month training and are sworn-in at their local court. Finally, here is an additional list of ways to help foster kids: http://www.fostercoalition.com/help-foster-children

As a child, Elana Conner lost both of her parents and spent her school years in foster care, hoping from family to family. She struggled, but managed to finish high school and then college. She learned to sail in San Francisco, less than a decade ago. But personal difficulties and strong mentors convinced her she needed to follow her dream of circumnavigating on her own boat sooner rather than later. She recently sailed across the pacific solo, arriving in New Zealand a little over a month ago. In this first of a two part interview, I speak with Elana about the challenges she’s overcome and how she learned to sail. Follow Elana at <a href="https://www.peregrinasails.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.peregrinasails.com/</a> Here are ways you can support children in the foster care system: <ul><li>First, and most basic, when folks shop on Amazon, choose to shop at <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://smile.amazon.com/</a> and choose a local foster care org or CASA chapter. For every purchase made, Amazon will give money to your org, and it adds up quickly!</li> <li>Foster Hope is the New Zealand base foster care organization Elana talks about in our interview - <a href="https://www.fosterhope.org.nz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.fosterhope.org.nz/</a></li> <li>Together We Rise — <a href="https://www.togetherwerise.org/team-building/build-a-bike/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.togetherwerise.org/team-building/</a> — They have a number of programs, including opportunities for corporate team-building projects (like assembling bikes and skateboards, or backpacks).</li> <li>Become a resource family in SF to foster or adopt a child from the foster care system: <a href="https://sfcaresforkids.org/foster/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sfcaresforkids.org/foster/</a></li> <li>SF Foster Youth Fund — <a href="http://www.sffosteryouthfund.org/what-we-do/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sffosteryouthfund.org/what-we-do/</a> — they provide funding and/or scholarships to allow children in foster care to have access to activities beyond the basics, like music lessons, summer camps, etc.</li> <li>CASA in California— <a href="https://www.californiacasa.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.californiacasa.org/</a> — CASA stands for Court-Appointed Special Advocate, and there is a CASA program in almost every district in the country, as well as a national advocacy organization. People who are interested in becoming a CASA go through a multi-month training and are sworn-in at their local court.</li> <li>Finally, here is an additional list of ways to help foster kids: <a href="http://www.fostercoalition.com/help-foster-children" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.fostercoalition.com/help-foster-children</a></li></ul>