Women and the Wind screening
We are delighted to co-host with Women in Boatbuilding a screening of the new documentary Women and the Wind, following a group of women as they sail across the Atlantic on Mara Noka, a 50-year old wooden catamaran.
We are lucky enough to have the Captain of Mara Noka, Kiana Weltzen, joining us for a Q and A afterwards alongside Belinda Joslin and Obi Oji from Women in Boatbuilding.
Women and the Wind
Women and the Wind is a project aimed at igniting the flames of curiosity and adventure which lay dormant within so many of us, by deepening our understanding of the synergy between nature and humanityand by doing so radically.
This project is led by a group of women and realized through a voyage across the North Atlantic on Mara Noka, a 50-year-old wooden catamaran. The trans-Atlantic voyage was captured through the eyes and lens of filmmaker Alize Jireh. Throughout 30 days of calms, storms, setbacks, and unimaginable scenery, Alize's camera kept rolling. Now with over 100 hours of footage, it is time to bring the full-length documentary to life.
The aesthetic of the film will provoke a deep emotional reaction, as the viewer is presented with the intensity of the voyage, and the ocean. The ever-changing state of the sea, in all its splendour, and dualityshifting between gentleness and ragereflects our own humanity and opens us to contemplation on our relationship with the most unknown parts of ourselves and the planet.
You can view the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f95a2SHrxho
About Kiana Weltzen, Captain
Kiana's ocean adventures began in 2016 when she left her real estate career in Miami for a year of travel. She soon met a mentor and moved onto his boat, a replica Polynesian double-canoe, realising this was her new way of life.
In 2018, Kiana acquired her own boat, Mara Noka, a modern Polynesian double-canoe. Despite her limited sailing knowledge, she navigated challenging passages, often sailing alone to avoid the responsibility of a crew. Her first year included tandem sailing with her mentor, but after her first solo Atlantic crossing in 2019, she sailed independently.
Kiana met Lærke in the Canary Islands, sparking the idea for the Women & the Wind (W&W) project. Post-Spanish COVID lockdown, she crossed the Atlantic to North Florida in late 2020, marking the start of a 14-month boatyard restoration of Mara Noka for the W&W North Atlantic crossing, her first voyage with a crew.
After the 2022 W&W North Atlantic crossing, Kiana sailed through Madeira, the Canaries, and Cape Verde, aiming for Brazil. She completed a 43-day solo crossing from Santiago to Ilhabela by the end of 2022. Currently in Paraty, Kiana focuses on her nonprofit, preparing to write a book about her travels, and finalizing the documentary.
About Women in Boatbuilding
Women in Boatbuilding is a Community Interest Company that supports and empowers women working hands-on in boatbuilding and related marine trades.
The Women in the Wind documentary is about many thingsthe wild, our relationship with the environment and freedom.
For us, it's the initial journey in the boatyard of the restoration of Mara Noka, and the empowerment of Kiana that we're looking forward to watching.
'When Mara Noka was first lifted out of the water in February 2021, Kiana barely knew how to operate a drill and had only the faintest idea of where to begin with the work. Day after day after day of taking the boat apart and tackling different jobs has led to an evolution within Kiana and the relationship she has with her boat.'
We look forward to watching the film with you, and reflecting together with our panel of boatbuilders, including:
Belinda Joslin Founder, Women in Boatbuilding
Obi Oji Boatbuilder specialising in greener boatbuilding.
Find out more about our work and community on insta @womeninboatbuilding
TICKET COST: £7.50
£5 from each ticket will go to Women in Boatbuilding- if you would like to make an additional donation, it is possible to do so at: http://www.womeninboatbuilding.com/support-us.html
Please secure your place by booking below.
Last updated 4:58pm on 30 April 2025