Recently I went to Molokai on a boat with my dad Keith (captain of our boat), my brother Connor, Finian Maynard, his girlfriend, Eric Beale, and Erik Aeder (the photographer). It was the best trip I've ever taken. The wind was around 40 knots, and we were there to speed sail. It was out of control! I was kind of scared at first to go out just 'cause I've never sailed in any conditions like this before, and there was a tiny passage way that you had to go out, which was surrounded by reef.

So I decided to let Finian and Eric go out first, so that I could get somewhat more of an idea of what I should rig up. When they came back into shore they said it was radical out there. Then my brother went out and both he and Finian hit the reef with their fins. I finally decided that it was time for me to go out. I had to prove to them that a girl could go out in these kind of conditions.

My dad and I debated on what sail I should go out on, he said I should go out on my 4.3 TR-1 slalom sail, and I though it was too windy for that, and wanted to go out on my 3.7 Legend. I gave into my dad thinking that he would probably know best, and tried to go out. It was one of the scaries things EVER! I was way to over powered. I went back in and rigged up my 3.7, and went out a little nervous, but excited to try speed sailing on such flat water. I went out with a good attitude, and tried my best and had so much fun.

I was perfectly powered up on my 3.7, and was trying to go as fast as I could. It was a good experience to sail with the fastest man in the world, and it made me push myself to do better than I've ever done before.

Ashley Baxter