|
|
Siri Laurendz
Skipper
Siri (married, two children) was born and lives in Oslo. She is a dental technician by profession, a sailinginstructor, and has a pleasure boat skipper license. Siri is an experienced sailor, having sailing as a hobby since she was a small girl and having participated in a number of regattas.
She got her first boat when she was just 7 and with her own Hallberg Rassy has sailed in the North Sea in a storm. She has also been a skipper in the Meditterenean and has sailed as a skiper in the Greek Cyklades and around Corsica.
Today, Siri is a partner and the manager of WestMar Marine AS, a company that imports boats and holds sailing courses, specializing in sailing courses for women.
”Teaching sailing to women is one of the most enjoyable things I have done”, says Siri. Her students finds her a fantastic instructor, who motivates and is able to create a good sense of security onboard.
She has agreed to skipper Queen of Hearts because it is a unique experience, which she is looking forward to sharig with the rest of the women on board.
She says that the personalities of the crew are just as important as their sailing skills.
”It will be exciting and challenging to sail with seven other women”, says Siri. Security and a good and friendly atmosphere onboard are some of the things that concerns her most.
Siri enjoys outdoor life – whether hunting in the mountains or at sea, in all types of boats and, of course, skiing in the winter.
|
 |
Henriette Salvesen
Co-skipper
Henriette (53, married, 3 children) began sailing when she was 10. She was the captain of the sailing club when she attended the Atlantic College in Wales. She has sailed with Siri in a number of regattas. Her family has owned two different Colin Archers and later a specially designed Camper & Nicolson, a 38 foot teak boat.
Her children have also been active sailors.
Henriette is a well renowned architect and has been a partner at Div.A Architects since 1987. She has won several architectural prizes.
”After all these years with a full time job, 3 children and countless projects it's time to do something different.
We have always had boats in our family, but I have never sailed over the Atlantic. Something my parents have done, by the way. I'm just following family tradition”, says Henriette. |
 |
Susy Lehnert
Crew
Susy is 51, she was born in Venezuela of Danish parents and lives now in Copenhagen. She is a purser with SAS and has been with the company for 29 years. Besides flying, she has a clinic that offer acupuncture treatments, healing, clairvoyance and feng shui.
Susy has been sailing for the last 15 years and has a certificate in practical sailing and navigation. She is member of the Copenhagen Amateur Sailing Club.
She has crossed Skagerrak many times. In September, she sailed with Queen of Hearts from Norway to Den Helder in the Netherlands.
”It has always been a big dream for me to sail over the Atlantic, and in a way, ”come home”. To cross the Atlantic will be demanding, both in terms of sailing capability, safety and because we are going to be confined to such a small area. However, I think I have the experience from my jobb as a flight purser”, says Susy.
|
 |
Elisabeth Fjeldheim
Crew
At 55, Elisabeth is a sporty and positive lady. She is married and has three wonderful, grown up girls.
She works as a dental secretary, together with her husband, who is a dentist.
She says that sailing is their family hobby and activity number one. They have just bought a new sailboat this summer.
According to Elisabeth, the ARC regatta will be a challenging, exciting and a very good learning experience. |
 |
Jane Asbjørnsen
Crew
Jane is another sporty and positive lady. She is 38 years old and is from Arendal. She works as a Maritime Personnel Manager where her main responsibility is the hiring of people for offshoreships around the world.
Jane comes from a family with strong traditions related to the sea.
She likes and enjoys challenges, whether it be job-related, being at sea in her new boat, which she bought this summer, or restoring old houses.
Jane also likes to paint and dabbles in sculpture.
Although relatively new with sailing, she is very enthusiastic and looks forward to experiencing ARC. |
 |
Stefania Righetti Nilsen
Navigator, crew and onboard reporter
Stefania (44, married, one son) lives in Asker, near Oslo, but is of Italian descent.
Her family comes from Milan and she grew up both i Milan and in mountain village North of Bergamo, where skiing traditions are very strong. She has now lived in Norway for 14 years.
Stefania is a web- and MAC designer, sha has taken her university degree in foreign languages, among others Nordic, English and German Literature.
She took part in cross-country skiing competitions for 23 years and has a ski-instructor and trainer licence.
Stefania works with communications in a major company dealing with road maintenance, but she is also a freelance journalist.
Her hobbies are skiing, photography, painting and sailing, of course.
Her first sailing experience was in the Baltic sea, and since then she has sailed around the Oslofjord, Skagerrak and the Caribbean.
To feel more at ease onboard, Stefania has taken sailing classes including a leisure boat skipper license on worldwide level (with astronavigation).
One of her dreams is to be able to go on a long sailing trip with her husband and son one day. The ARC regatta is a part of her preparation for this.
Stefanias motto is: Live life to the max!
|
 |
Kari Skogheim Walle
Crew
Kari (53, married, two grown-up daughters) comes from Torød, a small village on the island of Nøtterøy, near Tønsberg, south of Oslo.
She was challenged to join the ARC regatta by her friend, Elisabeth Fjeldheim.
”It took me about an hour to decide. This is an exciting project and I look forward to the trip”.
Kari was educated and is an experienced medical secretary. She currently helps her husband in the family business. Her daughters having moved out of the family home, she now has the time to do an Atlantic crossing.
”My husband and I have talked about sailing far and long, so this trip will be a good learning experience. In fact, my husband envy me very much”, says Kari.
Kari is sporty and enjoys downhill and cross-country skiing. She and her husbands sail a lot in the summer.
She has sailed since 1979 in different kinds of boats and has crossed Skagerrak, sailing to Denmark and in Germany.
|
|
