For Saanich police officer Janis Carmena, the ocean has always been a sanctuary.
Diagnosed with PTSD, Janis found solace and healing in the waters surrounding her Brentwood Bay home, where she has resided for the past five years within the close-knit liveaboard community.
“I got diagnosed about four years ago, which is why I live out here on this little oasis, and I'm just getting retrained,” she said.
“I get so overwhelmed and overstimulated on shore and I'm always on a constant watch for danger…it’s just exhausting. My central nervous system is always in fight or flight. When I come out here (on the water), as soon as I step on the boat, I almost want to cry. I can breathe; my whole central nervous system just relaxes.”
Now, she, her husband Blaine and their 18-year-old daughter, Izzy who just graduated from Stelly’s Secondary School are leaving the community for an ‘epic’ adventure aboard Tangaroa, their 1969, 78-foot aluminum boat — rebuilt from the hull up with their own hands and a lot of heart. Their 22-year old son, Josh will remain on shore to finish his education.
Leaving Brentwood Bay on July 7 at 11 a.m., the Carmenas are setting off on what they’re calling "The Great Siberian Sushi Run," a journey that will take them through the waters of Alaska, Siberia and Japan.
This isn't their first foray into life at sea.
Janis and Blaine met while working as professional crew aboard luxury megayachts, the kind familiar to viewers of the reality series Below Deck. Janis served as first mate, while Blaine was the engineer.
Before embarking on their sea adventure, the couple sat down with Peninsula News Review aboard the Tangaroa, sharing their excitement and anxieties about the long voyage ahead.
"Our first leg is going to be from here to Port Hardy, where we’re picking up a friend who will help us fill our freezers with fish," Janis explained. "You know how expensive groceries are, so we try to eat sustainably from the water.”
From Port Hardy, they plan to reach Wrangell, Alaska, by Christmas, where they will spend the winter before heading north in April 2026.
The journey is documented through their YouTube channel, Onboard Tangaroa Sea Trial, which has already garnered over 33,000 subscribers and counting.
Three days before the start of their voyage, Blaine admits there’s a “never ending amount of logistical stuff” they have to think about.
"I'm always figuring out what we're going to need for fuel to get where we're going," he said. "And making sure that our fueling stops are well laid out so we never have an issue where we're running low, safe routes to get places, currents tide to make sure we're not spending more time than we have to burning fuel."
The couple acknowledged that some have expressed concerns about their readiness for such an ambitious undertaking.
"We’ve done what we could to get the boat ready," Blaine said. "We’ve been on a refit for the last five years and there are always going to be things that are not going to be finished.”
Janis remains resolute.
"We are going to make it on July 7, whether we're ready or not,” she said. “And trust me, we're not going to be ready. We are just bringing parts on board and stuff to fix the boat as we go, because your boat's never gonna be perfect when you leave on adventure."
Janis believes waiting for perfection can be a major obstacle.
"If you always wait for your boat to be perfect, you never leave," she added. “So, right now, it's just taking that big book of life and turning the page and heading north.”
The Carmenas emphasize The Great Siberian Sushi Run isn't a leisurely cruise. It's an expedition into the unknown, complete with remote ports, challenging seas, language barriers and extended crossings.
"I've always wanted to see Siberia – it's untouched country," Janis mused. "Our dream is to pull into a cove, with no other boats there and take in an absolutely stunning view. With my PTSD, I don't have to be hyper-vigilant of everything around me. I can go, oh, now I can just look for bears and eagles.”
For Janis, embarking on The Great Siberian Sushi Run is also a mission of healing — one nautical mile at a time.
