By Neil Vangundy after 4 years of dedication to my Journey... :
Donna joins the ranks of a very few elite sailors of the world as the fastest American woman to single handedly circumnavigate the globe and in a 28-foot sailboat named after her state of mind, Inspired Insanity.With only 2 stops in the southern hemisphere, Opua, New Zealand and Puerto Williams, Chile (around the corner from Cape Horn), and a total of 290 days at sea, she completed her circumnavigation on May 16th 2007.
Donna’s story started with a tragic life-changing event in 1998.It so dismembered her existence that she left behind all that she knew.The sea was to be her mentor for a new life.A place where she could search for answers.Repeatedly being tested against extreme odds, her inner strength and physical stamina has overcome countless ocean battles in horrific conditions.Donna was tested by weather once again in April of 2007 in an epic Nor'Easter that pummeled the east coast requiring every ounce of her mental and physical endurance.She says her mind became clear and free after her boat nearly rolled over in the sea.It marked a new beginning.With that turning point, we have a new Donna Lange.With her comes a huge purpose and a huge responsibility.
Thank you Donna Lange for letting us watch you grow and sharing your inspiration and your music.You’ve seen things out there that we can barely imagine or comprehend.It’s your time to share what you’ve learned about life and death and the world we live in.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CAPTAIN DONNA LANGE? The Executive Director OceansWatch North America UPDATES After a successful Caribbean tour, I completed an amazing 2 month project sailing to Haiti in Inspired Insanity spending 2 weeks in Ile A VAche, and several days in La Gonave. We have had an amazing year. Our board of directors is growing bringing talented and experienced world sailors on board, while the membership is growing. We have several OW member boats heading toward the Caribbean with sights on the Pacific and points forward. Join the OW projects on a boat as a volunteer or plan to meet up at one of the destinations. Antigua, St Maarten, BVI, Dominican Republic and on to the Panama towards NZ. Where we meet needs by sea. For present projects in the Caribbean and around the world, www.oceanswatch.org/north-america. See the volunteer pages, Haiti and all that you can do.
OW Members and founders 'Sailors Without Borders' Cameron and Leighia head off to Haiti in 3 weeks in March of 2012. Collecting supplies in east Florida area....email donna@oceanswatch.org to help gather med, food, solar solutions supplies. Contact Me: donna@oceanswatch.org Facebook: Donna Lange Skype: inspiredinsanity
Stewart Kahn: Sponsor and mentor around the world
My dear friend, mentor and financial sponsor of my solo sail around the world , and owner of sv_Sherry Lee, that we sailed together after my sail around the world, passed away on Feb. 7th of Leukemia. It is so hard to imagine we will never share the ocean blue together again, yet easy to imagine him soaring with the petrils and albatross in his spirit on the waves, with gales and sweet breezes the like. To know that in the broaching of every dolphin his spirit rises from the ocean crest, dancing and swaying to the music of the water droplets. He was such a positive gentle, yet brilliant soul in life and will continue so. My most sincere condolences to his family, they will miss his guiding, nurturing way as husband, father, and papa. Stu and Sherry have given their lives for their passion to help others. Please visit www.islanddolphincare.org, and www.staynout.org. All donations should be directed to these organizations. I have had the priviledge to join a graduation ceremony for the Stay-n- out program, a prison rehabilitation program meeting with great success for inmates to return to life outside of prison successfully. The Island Dolphin Care program began with the life changing affects working with dolphins in rehab, for young Joe, severly affected from a stroke at the age of 5. Stu and Sherry rallied to help Deena and Peter develop the Island Dolphin Care program, now reaching out to young people all over the world with the healing power of dolphin energy. I have had the blessing of swimming with Joe and Deena's beautiful dolphins during a controlled free swim. It was an experience of such belonging and powerful energy surges swimming dances with them. Please, consider donating to their amazing program or visiting them in Key Largo, Florida.
Click on one of the songs below and enjoy Donna's music while you browse her site.
CAPTAIN D AND PEANUT ISLAND Newest Captain D story by Captain Donna Lange and Bonnie Blue HOLIDAY VISIT by NONI... with OYSTER (Bonnie's Pijon/Spaniel puppy)
Baby Charis
River with new little brother Zavier
Baby Skylar
Where in the World is Captain Donna? Writing Children's books with Illustrator Bonnie Blue "Captain D and Wise Mother Ocean" is in print!!! The first in a series of books to be written by Captain Donna Lange, illustrated by Bonnie Blue. Donna tells tales of her journey while teaching environmental values with practical activities to take action to CARE. It includes a narration CD with the song "For the Love of Oceans". CDWMO can be purchased by check or paypal through Bonnie's website, www.healingdolphin.com. An ebook version is available.
CAPTAIN D AND WISE MOTHER OCEAN AVAILABLE
The Students of Ecole Good Samaritan in La Hatte, Ile la Vache, Haiti
Donna with key leaders, the Committee for Development in Ile La Vache, Haiti
A solar oven to reduce the use of charcoal for cookiing.. the deforestation of the island has had devastating effects on erosion of the precious soil.
This trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic has become one of the most life changing experiences of my life. It is as if life has taken me up on my offer to 'care' and exposed me to so much I had never had a capacity to see or know. But now is the time to open my eyes. see the Present Update for full story
A Must Read "ONE....A face behind the number" written by 33 yr old Vaden Earle...a photo journal of his trip of the world...If there was a time in history when OceansWatch is needed, it is now in the Caribbean. see present update for OceansWatch team letter. www.absolute.org
Jean Phelix and I on Ile La Vache...
SAILIING THE WORLD: Join Donna on this fabulous journey to
love and peace sailing the worlds most challenging oceans solo. Revisit Donna's solo sail around the world, her actual logs, day by day, are in the archives, RI -NZ, NZ- RI. Read Donna's story,
the preparation of her boat and meet
her amazing dedicated team, music jams, an incredible world of
incredible people along the way. View her photo galleries.
This epic experience was life changing for Donna and her hope is that
it will be an encouragement to you in your life's journey.
"Inspired Insanity and I 6 days and nights from Norfolk VA to Palm Beach Fl A long coastal sail, cold, a gale, 20-30min watches, decidedly not a fun sail solo but breathtaking none the less. Recovering...sleep? Log and updates...page for the 'whole story' ...biggest hugs...
Donna Lange and Inspired Insanity were a feature Float in the 2007, 4th of July Parade in Bristol, RI. This parade is noted as being the very first Parade ever in the USA. Over 250,000 people lined the streets as they are trailered down the street by Brownell System's sponsored tractor and trailer.
CONGRATULATIONS DONNA FOR PRESENTATIONS MADE IN BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND APRIL 28, 2007
House Resolution: proclaming April 28, 2007, "Donna Lange Day in the State of Rhode Island" by Representative Douglas Gabinske
Special commendation, Town of Bristol - artwork for a plaque commemorating Captain Donna Lange's courageous sail, Presented by Diane Mederos, Town Administrator
Golden Circle Award presented by Commodore Ted Jones of the Joshua Slocum Society Southern Cross Owners Association Honorary Life Membership presented by Vice Commodore Jack Walsh
National Women's Sailing Association Special Certificate from the by Susan Daly
International Association of Cape Horners Five year membership in the by Jane Pares
