Race Countdown
It’s official — all my Clipper Race training is complete. Four intensive levels, countless hours on the water, and a steep learning curve from total sailing novice to ocean-ready crew. Now, the final countdown has begun.
The word from Gosport Marina is that the atmosphere is electric. All ten Clipper Race yachts are lined up side by side, crews buzzing with activity as we prepare for the 31 August race start. There’s a real sense of anticipation in the air — mixed with the focused determination that comes from knowing we’ll soon be swapping the marina for the open ocean. Every day brings the smell of freshly sanded decks, the sound of rigging checks, and the hum of teams working together to get their boats race-ready. I’ll be heading down to take part in Prep Week 2, commencing 18th August, where I’ll be joining my crew mates in finalising boat preparations.
As part of the victualling team on the UNICEF boat, my days are currently dominated by food — or rather, figuring out how to keep 20 people well-fed and energised for weeks at a time in a galley the size of a wardrobe. We’re finalising menus, creating shopping lists long enough to stock a small supermarket, and prepping everything so we can keep the crew going no matter what the weather throws at us. It’s a logistical challenge, but one that will pay off when we’re mid-ocean with a hot meal cradled in our hands.
These final weeks before slipping lines are also the perfect window for businesses to get involved. There are so many opportunities for partnership — from brand visibility on my kit, to bespoke content creation during the race, to exclusive behind-the-scenes access at stopovers around the globe. Partnering now means joining the journey at its most exciting moment — just before it all begins — and being part of a story that will travel across six continents and four oceans, all in support of UNICEF’s mission for children worldwide.
If you’d like to explore a partnership, let’s talk - I’d love for you to be part of it as we make our final preparations to set sail.
