Meet the Blister Sisters

Meet Virginia Cagney and Rachel Ruby: The Blister Sisters

We caught up with Virginia and Rachel, affectionately self-named as "The Blister Sisters," as they prepare to take on the Monterey Bay Crossing together. Here’s what they had to say about their journey, motivations, and the special bond that brought them together.

What brought you together?

Rachel: "I met Virginia on the dock. She was tall, knew how to row, and she said yes without hesitation when I asked if she wanted to do the crossing."

Virginia: "Rachel asked if I was interested after we met last winter."

What does the crossing mean to you on a personal level?

Virginia: "I had my second baby less than a year ago and hadn’t rowed for over 10 years before joining the Santa Cruz Rowing Club. Crossing the bay means that although my life looks completely different now as a mom, there’s still core parts of me that will never change. On top of that - as a new family in Santa Cruz, I wanted to build my own relationship with the ocean. And with a history of rowing competitively in college, this felt like the most familiar way to invest in my connection to our new home."

Rachel: "It was something my father had planned to do before he became ill. He and I always connected best around our shared love of sports."

How do you plan to stay mentally strong during the race?

Virginia: "Training as a Division 1 athlete built up my resilience for physical toughness. But more recently, having endured the pain of birth, I now truly know what my body is capable of."

Rachel: "I imagine I’m part of a mule train. I don’t think about start, finish, distance, time, or really anything at all."

How are you training, and what has been most memorable together?

Virginia: "The most memorable practice turned out to also be our wildest. On our way out we neared two humpback whales; watching them breach in between us and the shore. It was a bucket list item that I had been looking forward to. Next up, we got caught in the kelp forest so badly we considered having to jump out to untangle ourselves. And on the way back we caught a crab and practically capsized! We had awe, panic, and deep laughter - all in one practice."

Rachel: "We’re trying to increase our distance every week. Peter has been a great inspiration. Maybe the time we got lost in the fog, stuck in the kelp, had a whale breach next to us, and then almost flipped the boat. We had some good laughs on that row."

If you were to name your boat, what would its name be to best represent you?

Virginia: "Fond of Fog. With our newfound navigation skills and safety measures, we’ve learned to love the fog and the flat conditions it rewards us."

Rachel: "For a team name, I like The Blister Sisters."

Anything else?

Rachel: "Looking forward to the Crossing!"