On July 30, 1966, The Fiji Times reported on the arrival of a 38-foot ketch named Porpoise in Suva, captained by Louise Myers, a trailblazing woman venturing on a Pacific cruise. Known as “a woman in a man’s world,” Myers hailed from Honolulu and had a passion for sailing that began at the tender age of seven on American lakes.
In 1964, she purchased the Porpoise and embarked on her journey shortly before the article was published, sailing from Honolulu to Apia, then to Niuafo’ou, and finally arriving in Suva. In an interview with a reporter, Myers expressed her views on women in sailing, stating, “I can’t see any obvious reason why there are not more women skippers. There is nothing particularly difficult about it.” Her confidence as a captain was sometimes met with disbelief by shore authorities, who were surprised to learn that she was indeed the captain of the vessel after inquiring.
Accompanying Myers on the Porpoise were crew members Gordon Hooper and Peter Quackenbush from California, along with her youngest child, Chuck, who was just 11 years old. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, she shared that her commands were respected by her crew, emphasizing that her authority was well-received regardless of her gender.
The Porpoise spent several weeks in Suva before setting sail for the outer islands. Myers, who took charge of navigation, outlined her ambitious plans to journey to Pago Pago as the next stop, with further destinations including Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan over the course of two years, before returning to her home in Honolulu. Myers’ adventurous spirit and determination not only showcased her passion for sailing but also inspired a new perspective on women in leadership roles within traditionally male-dominated fields.