On the 30th of January, Swell and Liz Clark celebrated 5 years of voyaging together!

Liz Clark: Former University of California student of environmental policy current profession… Surfer/Global Circumnavigator. It was once thought that Liz would be sponsored and join the women’s pro tour, traveling the world to surf and compete on the global stage. Thankfully for her readers, adventure took hold of her life and for the past five year she has been sailing and sharing her life.

Liz’s writing as been a great source of encouragement for myself and many others I know over the past five years. Having found out about the Voyage of Swell just as Liz was departing form Santa Barbara, I count myself lucky to have had the privilege to follow her travels form the beginning.

While living on a sailboat that her father kept in Santa Barbara harbor, Liz was able pinch a few pennies. Living rent free, she saved for several years to eventually purchase her own ship. With the help of several sailing friends and family, Liz  overhauled the 1976 Cal 40 sloop that she now affectionately refers to as “Swell”.

“I’ve reduced my daily impact on the earth. I live closer to nature. Solar and wind power provide my electricity. I use less, need less, and want less, yet have never felt more fulfilled. At times the work seems endless and the uncertainties too daunting, yet without these the rest would never be as sweet. That’s the give and take of adventure. I enjoy, but don’t exploit the waves I find, leaving out their location so that those who get inspired enough to go looking might still find places without surf camps or crowds and experience the sensation of venturing into the unknown and being rewarded-a feeling that is, for me, as precious as the empty waves.” Liz Clark

Check out Liz’s blog and keep up with her adventures.