Eight Bells: Michelle Slade
We are very sad to report that our very good friend, sailor, writer and lifelong energizer, Michelle Slade, has lost her heroic battle with colon cancer at age 64. We were very fortunate to connect with Michelle not long after we moved to the Bay Area in the mid-’80s, and before we both became so entwined in the sailing world.
We joined her ever-expanding global circle of friends while also sailing the Bay, seeing sunsets from Mount Tam, and living the Bay Area life, which remained the hub of her overactive traveling itinerary.
Readers have seen many of Michelle’s stories in Latitude 38, though her personal story extends far beyond our pages and West Coast sailing shores. Her boundless energy could power a couple of data centers, and we were often concerned that she alone was the source of climate change and the melting icecaps.
While she called the Bay Area home, Michelle was truly a citizen of the world. You never wanted to write down her mailing address in ink. She never sat still; she built a community at every place she inhabited, and managed to build and remodel numerous houses while also cooking and entertaining her many friends. In addition to writing, she was a scuba instructor, yoga instructor, and worked as a CAD creator with a sharp eye for design. She did all this between trips to writing gigs at a wide variety of sailing events around the world. She had friends at every stop.
Michelle was passionate about sailing, writing, and looking for ways to bring sailing to the people. She worked with a wide variety of America’s Cup campaigns and grand prix events with the likes of Russell Coutts, Paul Cayard, Gary Jobson, Craig Leweck and many others, to tell the story of sailing. She covered the BVI Regatta for years, and regardless of the task, she was on top of the story, yet never missed a beat when it came to joining the fun.
Meanwhile, her own sailing was often kept simple. She crewed for us and many other Bay Area racers. She was an active windsurfer, then kiteboarder and then wingfoiler. She and Scott Steele, her partner of the last few years, delivered a new-to-her Beneteau 40.7 from the Great Lakes to Annapolis last fall while they raced together on her Melges 15 — all this after she had been given her diagnosis.
Scott knew the bright light of Michelle’s life that all her friends knew. She was still running 50ks or up Mount Shasta, and we’d cross tracks while mountain biking or as she was running up Mount Tam. Just this past winter, while getting treatment in Germany, she and Scott were hiking mountain gorges and snowboarding in Austria before fitting in another Melges 15 regatta. She made the best possible of every day.
Her life was an endlessly scrolling Twitter feed of professional commitment, full-throttle adventure and organizing a social swirl of well-choreographed dinners, parties and events for her eclectic collection of friends.
Even at her light-speed pace, she would slow down to read in a book club, pause to do yoga, volunteer for the St. Francis Sailing Foundation, and do an occasional meditation at Spirit Rock before blasting off to her next engagement with the world.
Michelle’s long battle with cancer was also an inspiration on how to live every minute. She was a relentless warrior searching for a path to healing while also doing everything imaginable between treatments and setbacks. She never stopped looking ahead or planning her next adventure. No rock was left unturned and no opportunity for fun was ever missed.
We are going to miss Michelle, and the stories she wrote, but mostly we’ll miss the many stories she created with us all.
Did not know Michelle but certainly knew of her (may have sailed with her years ago?). Beautiful story for an amazing spirit. Sympathy to all she touched.
Wow. Shock to read this. Nobody was more full of life than Michelle. Always – ALWAYS – a treat to run into her at some boating event. Then see the story she wrote about it was so much better than yours. She will be missed by many.
A very nice tribute to a very special sailor. Here’s to Michelle!
terrible loss for the Bay Area sailing community, but also the nation. amazing human. She will be missed, terribly
Very well written tribute (as always), John: so sorry to hear the news .. She was a bright fixture in the community for sure and I know how much you all loved her ..
Captured the essence of Michelle to a T.
I feel fortunate to be a part of all the people she surprised with a last minute party and am sure to bring a bottle of champagne to another one to remember her.
Had the pleasure on working alongside Michelle on numerous occasions, always spot on with her writing skills and succinct approach to the storyline… Originally a Kiwi, we shared a couple common denominators including ability to conjure up a humorous wisecrack when things seemed dreary…
Fair winds Michelle!
John, that was a beautifully written tribute to Michelle. I am so sorry — and so surprised — to hear of her passing. Condolences to you on the loss of a friend, sailing buddy, and contributing writer. I was privileged to be one of her editors at Latitude 38; I enjoyed getting the early read of her stories. We were also neighbors for a time, and I took her yoga class. She was truly a multi-talented woman.
What a shock…I knew Michelle for the last 30 years but lost touch with her after moving away. So sad to hear this news. She was a fun, amazing woman who always had a smile on her face and was the life of the party, whatever form it may have been.
Haere rā, Michelle!
I had the pleasure to work with Michelle on America’s Cup teams and always saw her as the spark plug when things needed to get done. Gone too soon for sure.
As an old school friend of Michelle’s (we met when we were 13) it was so warming to read this beautiful tribute. You’ve captured her so well. She has a group of friends in New Zealand who loved her deeply and we are all saddened by the loss of this dynamo. I have many memories of Michelle. The last time she stayed with me on the island where I live in NZ, she went for a long trail run in the NZ forest dressed in a tutu. just for fun. It was always for fun ❤️ and she had plenty of it❤️
This is a completely accurate description of the Michelle we all knew, loved, and tried to keep up with. Thank you for doing justice to the epic adventure and sailing evangelism her life represents.
RIP Michelle
What a beautiful tribute to Michelle. I am deeply saddened to hear of her courageous battle. I knew Michelle when she trained to be a teacher in New Zealand and we learnt to scuba dive together. She was everything you describe way back then!!!! A beautiful soul who always made time for people. The world is a better place for having Michelle. Xxxx
Wonderful tribute John. Michelle followed me in 2012 as the Marin IJ newspaper’s sailing correspondent, bringing our sport to the general public in Marin County. She wrote so powerfully and so effortlessly. She was very talented. What a loss.
Thank for for this beautiful tribute to our amazing, talented, warm, funny, Michelle. She will be missed by her many friends in the Gorge. Sweet sailing to your next adventure Michelle!❤️
What a bright light, incredible talent, and engaging spirit; the world will certainly be dimmer with her gone. Sail on ‘Meesh’ <3
Thank you for the beautiful words that capture Michelle’s spirit so well. I am her niece & it has been such hard news to receive especially being on the other side of the world. We shared a love of yoga, travelling & making friends wherever we go. If you have any stories, memories or photos with her please feel free to send them to my email as I wish to honour her life & share with her other family back home: [email protected]
Rest peacefully Aunty
Many thanks 🙏🏼
Such a beautiful story of a life very well lived. Michelle also did such a great job squeezing sailing into local news – something that we all appreciate as not everyone reads Latitude (even though they should). Sail on beautiful Michelle.
Oh John, such a wonderful tribute to Michelle. You’ve captured her energy and enthusiasm for life that we all so admired. I’m very very sad to learn of her passing and have been remembering fun times whether it was collaborating or hosting her at a media event or just a few laughs. I’m sorry for your loss 🩷 and thank you for sharing.
Beautiful tribute to Michelle – I also appreciated that the joy she shared always had meaning. She never wasted a moment or a word.
I meet Michelle in the Caribbean two years ago. She was Sailing on Little Wing with Ron and crew. We became friends after that and she would visit Santa Barbara and we would mountain bike and go hiking behind my house in the foothills. She loved to talk story and I enjoyed listening to her on many occasions. I will miss her energy ,her smile, her kindness and most of all her smile and laughter. God speed my angel.
We are going to miss Michelle. The world of water sports will not be the same without her
John, she was such a part of your sailing crew too, I loved seeing her smile on the water with you. This is a lovely tribute to Michelle. I first met her in Miami through Ashley 20 yrs ago and have kept up with her until I moved away a few years ago, so this news has come as a shock. She was a warm, funny, inquisitive, adventurous spirit and I am so sorry she’s not with us anymore.
Thank you, John, for the beautifully written eulogy. Michelle was a special force in the universe. Rest in peace.
I knew Michelle only lately through her work telling the stories of sailing, which at one point included the community sailing center that I worked for. She obviously had a keen eye for storytelling, but I recall her passion for just playing and the ways that water can support and heal us, no matter what journey we’re on. Fair winds and following seas.
Michelle was a good friend. I’ll miss her.
I’m very sorry to hear about Michelle. Fair winds, Michelle.
Great tribute. Always a highlight of any day to run into her, here on the Bay or some other random sailing venue. She is missed.
Didn’t know her but wish I had. Inspiring on all levels.
What a shock… I knew Michelle well during her Hood River days. Rest in peace my friend.
I met Michelle sailing Little Wing. She was an amazing person and an example for us all to strive to be like in some way. My heart is sad at her passing. She was an amazing person!
Michelle helped me promote the Leukemia Cup Regatta fundraiser pro bono many years ago. She was always so positive, fun and easy to work with. She was a very special person. I’m so sorry for everyone’s loss.
Oh dear Michelle! She was such a badass. I knew her in my sporty days in SF and had a magical weekend staying at her place in Hood River for a triathlon many many moons ago. She squeezed out so much in her short life.
Thank you, John for the amazing story of my gorgeous daughter Michelle. She took me on so many wonderful adventures over the years. I am absolutely devastated; we had so much hope for her. I will miss her forever. Thank you and Leslie for the many night races Michelle took me on in your boat around the Bay. Thanks again.
Will always remember your bright light, Michelle, and all the fun we had running the Hood to Coast race. Amazing, vibrant, bright light.
Michelle had an appetite for adventure while lighting up the skies with her smile and abundance of positive energy. I am sorry to see her go. She touched so many during her time here on earth.
I hadn’t seen Michelle in decades, but she was a force to be reckoned with in our fight to save the waterfront from private development in Hood River, Oregon. The beautiful community waterfront park that so many people visit there now is a direct result of her passion and commitment. ❤
I have been brought to this page by a loving mother. I am a lawn bowls friend the same age as Michelle.
I personally did not know Michelle. I am going to learn more of her amazing life over coming months as Gail and I explore her memories and the justified pride she has of her daughter.
All of us here at the club are acutely aware of the loss of Michelle and the sadness that Gail is wrought with. Gail is not alone though she may feel that way.
I stand in awe of what I have come to know about Michelle, with perhaps her greatest accomplishment the wide circle of friends that appear to have been energised by her candescent personality and vigour for life adventures.
How fortunate you all are.
This is a great tribute John, thank you I first met the beautiful New Zealand meteor in the early 1980s when she stopped in San Francisco supposedly on her way around the world. When we moved to New England in 2000 we lost touch, but thankfully her meteor touched back down here a few years ago. Michelle’s passing is such sad news, but whenever a puff comes off the water and the boat heals a little bit further, she’ll be right there.