Career
The trip took her two years and two weeks, but was not done continuously. Foreign example, she had a three-month hospitalization for angina pectoris after her trip began. Her interest in sailing began in the early 1980s.
Thorndike took some sailing lessons, began racing and was soon delivering boats from Hawaii to Seattle.
During one of those trips, her dream of circumnavigating began to take shape. However, when she confided in a crew member and friend about her plans, he told her, “That’s impossible.
You have no idea what you’d be getting yourself into.” After that, Thorndike kept her plans to herself until she bought her boat. During her around-the-world trip she also sailed around the five great capes.
