I grew up with two brothers, just one and two years older than me. There was no “girls vs boys” in our house, just competition. Backyard rugby started as a toddler, and from the very beginning, I was expected to hold my own. My dad used to call me Frank Bunce, the legendary New Zealand... Continue Reading →
Team Washington DC supporters: Skipper update 22nd July 2026 And so, it comes to an end. Eleven months at sea. Approximately 50,000 nautical miles. One complete circumnavigation of the globe. As the race draws to a close, it’s impossible not to notice the leader board. We know many people will judge our performance by where... Continue Reading →
Skipper update for team Washington DC Supporters 28th June 2026 Our stopover in Washington DC was a fantastic one, made even more special thanks to the support of Events DC. We enjoyed a VIP tour of the Nationals Baseball Stadium, experienced Fleet Week in full swing, and were welcomed by huge local interest throughout our... Continue Reading →
DC supporters Update 27th March and message delivered to crew onboard. The last few days have given us a proper introduction to the North Pacific at its worst. Big, relentless seas, cold that gets into everything, and the kind of conditions that don’t let up. It’s up there with the most brutal sailing we experience,... Continue Reading →
Skipper update 29th April I am not sure of the exact process for allocating crew. I know that the aims is to get a similar number of round the worlders, and a similar mix of ages, genders, sailing experience and nationalities. There is probably a desire to get more crew from a home nation on... Continue Reading →
There’s a quiet misconception that lingers around this race; that a few weeks of training, drills in the Solent, and a brisk hop across the Channel can somehow prepare you for the reality of the open ocean. It’s not anyone’s fault. It’s just impossible to simulate the magnitude of oceans like the North pacific or... Continue Reading →
Team Washington DC supporters update 20th January The stories we tell ourselves about luck on this race are curious ones. We often reach for luck as an explanation; sometimes fairly, sometimes as a convenient way to avoid confronting harder truths. In reality luck’s influence varies. There are events we frequently label as bad luck; sail... Continue Reading →
DC supporters update 8th January Every single person on board works hard to choose the attitude they bring to the boat. That matters more than most people realise. This race is long, relentless, and emotionally demanding, and yet our crew continue to show up for one another with humour, kindness, and resilience. This leg we’ve... Continue Reading →
DC supporters update from skipper 29th December Like many boats, we’ve had our fair share of events that in Ocean racing shape the leader board but more important test who we are as people.I read the book ‘Legacy’ about the culture of the New Zealand All Blacks. Their motto “Better people make better All Blacks”... Continue Reading →
Rather than a sailing update, this post is something more personal; a moment to reflect on what it feels like to lead this race as a young woman, and the conversations that come with it. It’s also an acknowledgement of the family I won’t be with this Christmas.During the last race, there was a lot... Continue Reading →
