This Week’s Conversation with Erica Lush, A Life Sailing the World

By Newport This Week Staff

on January 30, 2025

By John Pantalone

Erica Lush, who grew up in a sailing family in Jamestown and took her first lessons at the Conan­icut Yacht Club, has logged over 75,000 offshore sailing miles. She has competed in double-handed races and racing through the Southern Ocean via the three Great Capes: Af­rica’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin, and South America’s Cape Horn. Now, she finds herself in France preparing for a unique first singlehanded competition.

“La Solitaire du Figaro” is part of a European racing circuit and one of the most difficult in the world for singlehanded sailors. The first races take place from March to May, with a second set in August and the main event in September. In between, she plans to return home for the New York Yacht Club transatlantic race from Newport to England in June.

Lush says her goal for “La Soli­taire” is to make a strong showing in tight competition that often requires up to 10 years in the fleet to place on the podium. “The real benefit if you do well is you become better known and can possibly attract corporate sponsorship even if you are a rookie,” she said.

Among her many achievements, Lush has represented the United States at the 2021 and 2024 Offshore Double-Handed World Champion­ships. She also raced the second and third legs of the Ocean Globe Race on board Maiden, the overall win­ners. She took line honors in the 2022 Bermuda Shorthanded Return Race and has sailed extensively on IMOCA 60 and Class 40 racing yachts.

Erica Lush off to France for some serious sailing. (Photo by Cate Brown.)

How did you begin sailing?

I was put on a boat before I can remember. My parents would put my brother and me in a little dinghy with a long bow line. When we went off course, they would just reel us back in.

I was lucky to learn from my par­ents and at Conanicut Yacht Club in Jamestown. My family would take our small keelboat sailing for a week every summer, exploring dif­ferent islands in Rhode Island and Vineyard Sound.

Once you know the basics of sailing, how do you master skills and techniques?

This can take a lifetime. It’s all about getting as much time on the water as possible, in different situa­tions, and asking lots of questions. The learning never really stops.

What motivated you to get into solo racing?

I experienced an upwelling of reasons for this decision. One el­ement comes from family legacy. My dad competed in solo ocean races in the 1970s and ‘80s, and I grew up proud of his adventures. I never con­sidered it until I began racing double-handed, a similar discipline where sailors have to learn every position on board. I loved how much I was learning and wanted to push myself to learn even more. Sailing alone became a natural next step. The biggest reason [was]: after many challenges as a woman in a male-dominated sport, I needed to prove to myself what I am ca­pable of.

How does offshore sail racing differ from other types of sail racing?

At its essence, racing offshore means that you spend at least one night at sea. Usually, you lose sight of land on the horizon. Compared to a normal sailboat race where you often experience a predictable thermal breeze and go home at night to a cozy bed, there’s a stark difference in the complication of weather patterns and more challenging conditions. If you’re crossing an ocean, you can face anything.

Tell us about the race in France, “La Solitaire du Figaro.”

La Solitaire du Figaro is a series of three races. Each lasts three to five days, near the Atlantic coast of Europe. The conditions can be formidable, and competition is ex­tremely tight. Did I mention you’re completely alone? The Solitaire can also be compared to triple-A baseball, in that many professional ocean racing sailors get their start, and their first sponsors, in this racing circuit.

Your endeavors focus on oppor­tunities for women to excel in elite offshore competition. How did this happen?

I had a wide variety of experi­ences. On one hand, I have had incredible mentors and benefitted from affirmative-action programs (The Maiden Factor and the Ma­genta Project). On the other, I have been in environments missing any encouragement or development. These differences showed me the importance of development op­portunities, especially for women. These opportunities are not hard provide if you take time to con­sider them.

You describe yourself as “a passionate believer in working hard, embracing adventure, pushing personal limits, and leaving the world better than you found it.” How did you be­come that person?

Largely, these were the values I was raised with. My mom became an entrepreneur and software developer at a time when banks wouldn’t let her buy a house without her father’s signature. My dad decided to sail solo across oceans, and he did it without knowing how to swim.

You’re offering “partnerships” on your website. How can someone become a partner?

There are exciting opportunities to partner with my campaign. The event gets significant media cov­erage in Europe, hospitality oppor­tunities in a unique environment, and brand alignment with a mem­orable sport focused on men and women competing against each other on equal terms.

If people are interested, they can reach me at erica@lushsailing.com.

You can read the full article online here.