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Maiden , Leg 4- Ocean Globe Race 2023-2024

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  Punta del Este, Uruguay to Cowes, UK 5th March 2024- 16th April 2024 6599nm 42 days This final leg was all about the overall IRC rankings for us. We started the leg in 2nd place and had a point to prove, we could not let Trianna take the victory. It was the last push and we were hungry to do well. I was again nervous about the doldrums but also the South Atlantic Convergence Zone which is a lesser known area off the Brazilian coast which brings light winds and squally conditions. We had sailed through it and got stuck on one of our -trial legs from Santos in Brazil to the Azores and I was determined to not make the same mistakes.  Race start was hectic, Galiana stalled on the line right before us, so we had to duck behind them before crossing. It turns out we got off pretty lightly as we heard that Evrika and Trianna collided, causing damage to their boats. About a mile after starting, I saw Pen Duick crash tack. I was confused until I saw a bright object in the water. They ...
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Maiden, Leg 3- Ocean Globe Race 2023

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Leg 3- Ocean Globe Race   Auckland, New Zealand to Punta del Este, Uruguay 14th January 2024- 16th February 2024 6514nm 33 days After an incredible stop-over in Auckland, filled with family, fun and fleet bonding, we once again set out into the Southern Ocean. We were reunited with Rachel and Junella and also gained a new crew member with Capucine who had joined us from our neighbour L’Esprit D’Equipe. We were now 'half way there' and had massively improved as a team with our manoeuvres, helming and communication. We were keen to put all we had learnt on Leg 2 to the test and battle those Southern swells and big winds.  The start took place just outside the Yacht Club. I had took some advice from my friend Julia who had grown up near Auckland and knew these waters and islands well as to the best route out of Auckland harbour, so we opted for clear wind and to take the Northern route around Rangitoto before bearing off towards the North Coast of the Coromandel's. We didn’t h...
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Maiden, Leg 2- Ocean Globe Race 2023

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  Leg 2- Ocean Globe Race 2023 Cape Town, South Africa to Auckland, New Zealand 5th November 2023- 13th December 2023 7610nm 38 days Cape Town was a very busy stop-over, with a lot to do on the boat to prepare it for the Southern Ocean in a relatively short time. On top of this, the team suffered a heartbreaking tragedy right before leaving for the start of Leg 2.  More then ever my team needed me to lead. I had to get through this for them so I could help them get through it too. Starting Leg 2, I only had the goal to get everyone to New Zealand safely, we had already lost enough. I knew there were likely to be some tough conditions ahead and I needed to draw on all of my knowledge, skill and instinct to keep everyone safe so I couldn’t be distracted.  Thankfully former Maiden skipper, Erica Lush, stepped into Rachel’s shoes whilst she couldn’t be there and became our 1st mate for the leg. I had relied on Rachel so heavily on the first leg, with her being beside me for e...
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Maiden, Leg 1- Ocean Globe Race 2023

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  Leg 1- Ocean Globe Race 2023 Southampton, UK to Cape Town, South Africa 10th September 2023- 21st October 2023 7951nm 41 days After a whirlwind 8 months of hard work to get the boat and team ready, we finally crossed the start line! And what a start it was- so many boats out on the water to see us all off. We crossed the start in style with a spinnaker hoist and quickly cemented our place in the leading section of the fleet, with Pen Duick VI, Translated 9 and Spirit of Helsinki. We had some beautifully executed gybes from the team before the wind came forward on us near Yarmouth. I made a bad call when we hoisted the JT instead of the J1. I thought the change in wind direction would be more gradual which meant when it came round too close for the JT we had to tack to do the peel to the J2 which ultimately lost us ground. Spirit of Helsinki had vanished off into the distance and headed out past the needles, Pen Duick VI had opted for the North Head passage, so that left us and Tr...
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