In the spirit of fictional adventurer Indiana Jones, a Carlsbad grandmother has completed a 1,828-mile boat trip from Canada to Mexico, riding solo on a personal watercraft.
Jane Usatin, 56, was attending a biblical archaeology conference when her interest was sparked after watching “a bunch of guys on Jet Skis” and deciding it looked like fun.
“But I’m not the kind to go around in circles,” she said. “I’m a point-to-point person.”
Usatin, a University of San Diego business communications professor, decided it would be fun to ride a personal watercraft along the California coastline, so she began to research the idea early last year.
She was hoping to find Web sites, but soon discovered there were none, apparently because no one had ever made such a trip.
Usatin enrolled in “about every course the Coast Guard Auxiliary had to offer,” learning everything from basic ocean safety and seamanship to coastal navigation and the use of global-positioning systems.
As her planning progressed, Usatin developed four goals —- increase coastal awareness, promote the history of coastal towns, promote the USD marine science scholarship program and counter the popular concept that many personal watercraft users are irresponsible.
Usatin began her voyage on an 11-foot Yamaha in Blaine, Wash., and ended 28 travel days later when she rode past the Tijuana bullring. She averaged about 60 miles a day, but spent one long day traveling 130 miles.
Usatin spent 115 hours alone on her watercraft, many times in high winds and rough seas. Her husband, Josef, followed along the coast in a motor home and maintained contact via marine radio.
More: nctimes.com
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