Sea Change
WHEN CHELSEA SCHMITT told her parents that she was taking the test to become a charter-boat captain in Alaska, they were not elated. With a fresh degree in international relations from the University of Oregon, she had traveled the world for a bit, including trips to Africa and Korea, but quickly found out that one of the penalties of wanderlust is that it doesn’t pay. As it turned out, she ran out of money in Homer, Alaska, where, after a few seasons as deckhand on the thirty-six-foot Irish Mist, she decided to become a captain herself.
“Growing up, our parents always pounded into our heads that you can do whatever you want. It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy,” said Chelsea. “They weren’t very excited when they found out I was coming up here, but they’ve always been supportive.”
Captain Chelsea and deckhand Emily Leggitt are now in their third season running the Irish Mist for boat-owner Capt.
