April murrin

Mariner
Grit, Guts, & Greatness

From Newfoundland, Canada
Lives on Vancouver Island, Canada

My SmashGrrrl journey began as a daydream... of circumnavigating Newfoundland on an old wooden Grand Banks trawler with some real salty, saucy skipper at the helm

I’d dream of each leg of the journey: the high seas, the hot tea, the ports we'd visit – sipping rum and sharing meals with the the wild and charming outport characters. I'd write a book of their stories sitting in the nooks and crannies of “The Rock” (my island home's nickname), and capture the gritty nautical spirit Newfoundland.

Some years later... I found myself on a boat tour in Australia. I’d made real good buddies with the Skipper and he gave me the helm. This outraged a passenger who screamed, red-faced, “What is this!? You’re letting this ‘WOMAN’ drive the boat!?” 

The skipper looked at me with a wink and whispered, “You stay right where you are,” and let me stay on helm for the entire return trip to the dock. 

✨ He breathed life into my dreams ✨

He told me his 16-year-old daughter was getting her captain’s license and he encouraged me to do the same — and I believed him.

Today, that dream is my reality.

I love my work as a captain and engineer on boats, and have sailed nearly the entire west coast of Canada, including a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.

The sea sparks a most surreal kind of connection between the soul of the natural world and my own — she brings me to life.

I want to share this connection, this fire and clarity of mind, with those whose lights have been dimmed and need a spark from the soul of the sea.

I started off not knowing stern from bow just a few short years ago. Now, here I am, ready to be the saucy, salty skipper of the old wooden Grand Banks trawler of my dreams.

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Rad Grrrl Rapid-Fire

⚡ What advice would you give to other women & girls who want to get into this space?

To all the women out there dabbling into big dreams, I say: “you stay right where you are" at the helm of whatever it is that sets your soul on fire. Hold on tightly and keep doing what you're doing one step at a time. One day, you'll find yourself living your dream.

⚡ What do you love about SmashGrrrl?

I'm so thrilled to know the creator of SmashGrrrl and to be so fortunate to have had mentorship from her. I’m in love with the space and community that SmashGrrrl is building, of women supporting women and encouraging each other to get after it!

Of course, I love the water women gear. To me, the graphics reflect the fierce and gorgeous soul of the skipper in me. I don’t feel like an imposter, as many women in underpresented fields do. I see myself in the graphics and I feel powerful. Like a bona fide badass.

⚡Any last words or thoughts?

"And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” – Paulo Cohelo