I am a complete novice sailor but have always loved the sea. I remember listening to Pete Goss give his inspirational account of his Southern Ocean rescue of one of his competitors (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cszh60) and thought – “I would love to try that”

Fast forward 15yrs and I have signed up for Clipper Round the World Yacht Race – the only event that trains novices like me to compete in ocean racing. 

I will be completing almost 12,000 nautical miles across 2 legs of the round-the-world race. The first leg will be the Southern Ocean - to face what, for many sailors, is their ultimate challenge: The Roaring Forties. I can expect cold conditions, 80 foot swells, boat speeds of well over 30 knots and wind speeds that can reach up to 70 mph. This is the most remote ocean on the planet, where outside of the Clipper Race fleet our nearest companions are the astronauts on the International Space Station. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=861lbJmVeSg

The second leg will be a complete contrast – The Asia Pacific challenge – which offers the most varied conditions of the race. Heading north from Australia towards the Equator, the breeze may drop, punctuated by spectacular storms and squalls with temperatures reaching 35^oC. A stopover in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam before continuing the race through the South China sea and into Zuhai China.

This is a huge personal challenge for me but also a privilege. I would like to use this opportunity to raise money to support those less fortunate. Our partner charity is UNICEF, they work to build a better world for every child, everywhere, every day. UNICEF help more children than any other humanitarian organisation. Supporting children by keeping them safe during wars, providing lifesaving food, clean water, vaccines and support their education to give them the chance of a better future.

Please could you join me in supporting this amazing cause and follow my progress during the race:-

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/route-map

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/team/team-ineke/team-hub