For ten years, Horizon, a 30-foot-long fiberglass sailboat built in 1979, has sat on Cape Cod. Now, it is almost time for Horizon to set sail once again, thanks to the dedication and vision of Hope Alto ‘19.
When offered ownership of the deteriorating boat by a coworker, Alto, who has been sailing for fifteen years, saw the proposal to refurbish Horizon as both an opportunity and a challenge. In the midst of rebuilding a gas engine from the ’60s, engineering a draining system, repacking propellers, sanding, and repainting, Alto relies on skills of perseverance, problem-solving, and independence that she cites learning at Ursuline Academy.
Additionally, Alto takes pride in knowing that her work on Horizon contradicts the stereotype that projects of engineering and maintenance should be reserved for men because, as Alto puts it, “Women can do anything!”
When not working on Horizon, Alto spends her time teaching adaptive sailing to people with cognitive and physical disabilities. This fulfilling expression of Serviam sparked her decision to pursue an Occupational Therapy degree at Regis College in the fall.
In her future, Alto plans to expand the adaptive sailing field using her degree to ensure sailing and the ocean are accessible to all. Alto’s passion for accessibility is another reason that she felt personally drawn to Horizon.
Horizon was released when fiberglass began to be mass produced. Having an affordable racer-cruiser that could handle offshore ocean sailing on the market helped a more diverse population get into the sailing world.
Alto’s story is a testament that anything is possible for an Ursuline girl; when living with faith, courage, and joy, there are limitless opportunities on the horizon.
