Meet Coral!

What are some of your favorite things about being part of AC?
Something wonderful happens when we leave behind our phones, hop into these boats and take off on the passage from Rockland to our mossy island home for the week. I love waking up our bodies with the morning row as the mist lifts from the water, then the shrieks and splashes as we jump off the stone pier for the morning swim. Community starts to really emerge as everyone shares in the chores and friendships form while hauling water or chopping vegetables together. I love every minute we are in the boats; thirteen awesome humans working together to navigate, haul on the oars, raise the sails, pour snacks in our hats, point out seals, sing in harmony, and slalom around lobster pots. I especially look forward to adventure days when we head out all day in the boats to explore the neighboring islands. Then the coziness of circling up for dinner, watching the sunset, sipping hot tea around the firepit, the fiddle tunes and chatter at the end of the day as our connections to each other deepen before falling deep asleep in our tents under the stars. It feels like we are tapping into all the best parts of what makes a beautiful community.

When did you become involved with AC?
I'm lucky enough to live in Waldo County where the Mighty Worksong Chorus hosts weekly singing rows in the Bantry Bay gigs. In the spring of 2019 I finally hopped into one of the boats and then joined the 2019 training week out on Greens Island.

Have you had any other sailing/rowing experience?
None before joining AC.

Where do you currently live?
Belfast, Maine

What are some things you do in your professional life or study beyond AC?
A few years ago I collaborated with a group of parents and founded a handcraft and outdoors based enrichment program for local homeschooled students ages 5-11. I design curriculum to introduce students to local artists, naturalists, and craftspeople who pass down their skills to creative and curious students. We lead field trips to local land trusts, museums, farms, artist studios, workshops, and more. We spend our days exploring the woods and waters in all seasons. Our “classroom” is a camp in the woods with a fire pit around which we build fires, cook, sing songs, and tell stories. For the 8 years prior to joining Atlantic Challenge, I worked as a farmworker at several organic farms here in Waldo County developing skills in growing and selling seedlings, vegetables, flowers, and grains.

What are some of your hobbies?
I love everything to do with the fiber arts - knitting, weaving, felting, dyeing with locally grown/foraged colors. I also love tending plant seedlings, designing herb and flower gardens, hiking in beautiful places, cooking over campfires, playing cards, and ice skating!

If you could wake up with a new skill tomorrow, what would it be?
There are so many skills I wish I could wake up with. The most practical would be carpentry and woodworking. Blacksmithing would be fun too!

Is there an animal you feel a kinship with?
Ever since I was a child, Great Blue Herons often seem to appear in my life whenever I might be pondering a worry or anxiety. If I happened to see a heron fly overhead or perching at the waters’ edge, I felt it was a message that everything would work out and be ok. I still feel that way. They bring me hope and peace. I’m glad to live in a place where I now see them often whenever we row the Bantry Bay gigs up the Passagassawakeag River. Also Otters! Especially when they are playfully sliding down a snowy hillside on their bellies!

Favorite meal/food?
Fresh homemade bread right out of the oven slathered with a lot of butter.

Favorite song to sing while rowing?
I have so many favorites! The song that popped into my head when I read this question today happened to be “Rolling Down the Bay to Julianna”