About Hobiegirls: Yoanna and Michala first met when they were very young in Hornbæk (a beautiful little beach town in Denmark) where their families spent their summers. Michala was 13 and Yoanna was only 10 when the two of them were allowed to sail the Hobie Cat on their own. They not only had great fun enjoying the waves, but got a good feel for the boat, developing their excellent teamwork.
About the skipper Michala: Michala is a skilled sailer and has been sailing Hobie Cat 16 since she was 4 years old with her father. In her younger days, she sailed Optimist, Laser, Yngling and windsurfed. She received the gold needle from The Royal Danish Yacht Club for her voluntarily work with children and yachting. Michala continues to sail, not only the Hobie Cat 16, but also a Flying Dutchman, DN iceboat and has also started windsurfing with her son. She is an accomplished skier, loves pilates and photography. She is married to Kim and they have two sons. Michala works as an artist.
Michala was 21 when she survived a parachute accident. She broke her back in 3 places, both her legs were broken and her foot was badly damaged. The doctor’s prognosis was that she would be wheelchair bound or if lucky have to use a walking stick for the rest of her life. After 3 months in hospital, Michala was determined to get back on her feet again, and against all odds, was skiing again two years later. Michala’s body if full of metal and although suffers from daily pain, her sheer determination makes up for it!
Michala made the impossible possible and has proved that if you are determined enough, there is no stopping you. She hopes that this might inspire others to do the same – it’s never too late. Never say never: Not to Michala 🙂
About the crew Yoanna: Yoanna has also been sailing the Hobie Cat since she was 10 years old and she absolutely loves sailing. Yoanna is a research scientist (molecular biology) by profession and is a partner in a relatively new innovation company. Yoanna’s other big passion is horses and she is a skilled horsewoman. Her parents bought her first horse at the age of 12, after having proved her commitment for some years. She rides several hours a day, in order to fulfill her love for hunting and eventing. Yoanna loves pilates, yoga and is also an excellent skier.
Yoanna lived in Germany for three years to complete her final thesis at the Max-Planck Institute for Immunology. She was able to move the horses to be close to her but not the sea and as she missed the sea so much, she decided to move back to Denmark.
Yoanna, since the age of 12 suffered from back problems due to Scoliosis. Doctors advised her to keep active to help her condition. Due to Yoanna’s riding, she is very agile with the Hobie Cat trapeze, making her a fantastic crew member. Yoanna’s motto is: “If you fall off the horse you have to get back on it again”. Just by having a positive attitude you can change your life and have fun. She has a beautiful little son Jonathan. Yoanna on her horse:
hobiegirls.com 