Parents’ evening was always the same. Teachers would flick through their records, searching for a face they couldn’t place. “I don’t think she’s in my class,” they'd say. Then their eyes would drop to the spreadsheet. A row of numbers. Predicted outcomes. “Ah yes..” Only then could they tell my parents who I was. Or... Continue Reading →
Life onboard during an 11-month circumnavigation brings with it a rhythm that becomes strangely ordinary, even in the most extraordinary of environments. In the daily grind of sailing our routine of wakeups, watches, sail changes, and meals, can begin to blur together. Even in the middle of vast oceans or under starlit skies, life can... Continue Reading →
This is the second in a series of blogs exploring the many dimensions of participating in the Clipper Race. In this entry, I focus on the sailing, the core of the journey, which is as relentless as it is exhilarating. Ocean racing is not just about pointing the boat in the right direction and sailing... Continue Reading →
A lot has happened since last posting here. In May 2023 as I stepped off 59 North’s Falken after a transatlantic passage, I received a call from Clipper HQ asking me if I wanted to be an additional qualified person (AQP: better known as first mate) on the race. Since then, I have been caught... Continue Reading →
This summer has been a blast! I finished 6th form college early in order to skipper a boat in Croatia for a week. On my return I took (and passed!) my Yachtmaster costal exam and the week after that I started my first full-time job at Oyster yachts. For my first few weeks I was... Continue Reading →
I am not really from a sailing family; my mum and dad didn’t sail until I was 10. It all started after my grandma died and my grandad decided to re-engage with some of the activities he had enjoyed when he was younger. He and grandma had owned a folk boat “Stella” which they kept... Continue Reading →
This year I have been competing in my first season of RORC (Royal Ocean Racing Club) and JOG (Junior Offshore Group) racing. I have joined a fabulous team on an Elan 410 called Mad Dash based in Port Hamble Marina. The crew has been slightly different each time but have always been a great team... Continue Reading →
I recently completed a week of work experience with the commissioning team at Oyster Yachts. I had seen posts about Oyster Yachts online and on learnt about their world rally on their website, so reached out to Oyster CEO Richard Hadida, who has owned the company since 2018, to enquire about potential sponsorship for the... Continue Reading →
I recently completed level 2 of clipper training, which includes sea survival techniques and learning about life at sea. Living at sea involves sailing round the clock, while working in watches, cooking under sail and forgoing the luxury of Marina toilets and showers On the first day, we met at a school in order to... Continue Reading →
I recently gained my RYA Day Skipper qualification. Before I could take the practical component, I was required to complete the theory course (which I chose to do as self-directed online study) and pass two theory examinations. The first part of the course and first exam covered sailing essentials such as points of sails, buoyage... Continue Reading →
