Teen sailor and mom take on Vasco da Gama race

WHILE most teenagers were tucked in bed this week, 16-year-old Michaela Barrett was battling wind and waves on the open ocean, competing in the prestigious Vasco da Gama Yacht Race. 

With seven years of sailing under the belt, taking part in South Africa’s oldest coastal race from Durban to East London was a dream come true.

Although it was her second Vasco, this time she got the full experience because last year her entire crew, apart from the skipper, had swine flu. 

One sailor dropped out before the race began, but they couldn’t afford to lose anyone else. “So we had a total of three people on deck at any given point last year, because the people down below were almost hallucinating, so we kind of juggled the shifts that way, because we all weren't sick at the same time, luckily it was like staggered.”

Despite that ordeal, Michaela returned to the Vasco race this year, much to everyone’s surprise. 

“It's hard to explain because you feel so anxious leading up to it. Then halfway through, you're going, what am I doing here? I'm in the middle of the ocean. But it's such an accomplished feeling that you get, that you just keep on going back.” 

Michaela was introduced to sailing during a church camping trip at the Midmar Dam. She was only nine years old then. “As sailors say, I got bitten by the sailing bug,” she laughs.

Seven years later, she has competed in regional and national championships, earned multiple medals, and even skippered her first offshore race. She was also awarded the Choose Life Youth Trophy in this year’s Vasco. 

Even more special is that she shares the sport with her mom, Laura Barrett. They’ve done the two Vasco races together and on the same vessel. 

Barrett initially took Michaela to sailing lessons, but soon also found herself drawn to the water. 

 “It's so incredible because a lot of boats actually refuse to take two family members on board because they end up fighting, so they're saying it's incredible that we actually sail together without fighting,” says Michaela.

So who's the better sailor? “My mum says I am, but I say it depends on where we're sailing. If it's a dinghy, which is a smaller boat, then I would definitely say me. But on the bigger boats, when it comes to flying spinnakers, I'm completely lost and mum is the person you go to.” Recently she completed her skipper's license and can now sail offshore at night.

Michaela says sailing changed the conversations that she has at school. “They kind of go, ‘so which race did you compete in’? ‘And what crazy adventure did you get up to this time’? In fact, you often get bruises when sailing but they’ve actually stopped asking where the bruises come from.” 

For Barrett it's a privilege to share the joy of sailing with her daughter. It’s changed their lives. “It's my happy place,” she says.

Last year Michaela wanted to participate in the Vasco da Gama Yacht Race but she was only 15 and had to be accompanied by an adult. Barrett instantly agreed. “I didn't really know what I was getting myself involved in. But I can only equate it to being like running the comrades. It's such a feeling of accomplishment when you cross that line.”  

She says teamwork is vital on a boat and despite their parent/child relationship everyone has authority and responsibilities, even Michaela. 

“Although she's my daughter, she's also my teammate. And out there you're on an equal playing field. So when Michaela's shouting an instruction at me, I've got to listen.”

She encourages parents to get their children into sailing for the wonderful life skills that they learn and dispels the myth that it's only for “elitists” because there's lots of avenues for anybody to join the sailing. Barrett says she is very grateful to Michaela for introducing her to sailing. “You can't describe to people how it feels when you are in the middle of the ocean and you're watching the sunset. And then those special moments when the dolphins or the whales come and greet your boat. It is very, very special.”

With her hectic sailing schedule, Michaela has learnt to use every opportunity to do her schoolwork. Currently in Grade 10, she loves science and maths but also makes time to play the violin, guitar and do art. When they are not sailing, they are singing in the Durban Symphonic Choir, says Barrett. 

Having now completed two Vascos, Barrett and Michaela have wind in their sails and are aiming to complete the transatlantic Cape to Rio Yacht Race within the next seven years. Michaela has also set her sights on a career in marine engineering or marine architecture; anything that revolves around the ocean and sailing.