‘I didn’t know you knew all about sailing!’

Earlier this month I had my final day at school; the Foundation Meeting involves the whole school including family and friends listening to a few sentences from each leaver describing the influence the school has had and what they hope to achieve in the future;

'Sophie will be forever grateful for the profound influence and support that the Mount has given her over the past 7 years. She hopes she has made lifelong friends with students and staff and is now ready to take on the new challenges in her life using the Ethos of the school; 'Discover your potential that you never knew existed'.... by Racing Round the World on a yacht.... and then going on to University to read History of Art.'

Afterwards one of the other girl's Dads came up to me and said; "Well done Sophie, I didn't know you knew all about sailing!" Quickly I replied; "I don't know anything about sailing!" This took him slightly aback. Well that's not totally true, but I don't know much about sailing. I think my reaction was not only to reassure myself but assure others.

For the record my sailing experience started in the summer of 2009, my Dad made the 5 hour journey from York to Salcombe in Devon and put me on the ex-Mersey ferry, Egremont, where the Island Cruising Club teach Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses, in that first week I learnt the basics of sailing dinghies gaining my levels 1 and 2. Although, by the end of the week I think I knew more about the entire contents of Cranch's Sweet shop on our trips on the boat into town, than I did about points of sail. However, the seed was sown after a great time.

On a Sunday in September 2009 I went with my uncle to Spurn Point to see the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race set off from Hull, from there I became hooked and followed the race and crew members blogs as they sailed round the world watching them return home the next year.

In 2010, another 6 hour drive this time to Trysail in Falmouth with my Dad, Aunt and Cousin for a 5 day Competent Crew course on a 40 foot Beneteau. Another RYA certificate gained, and it was when our Skipper, Jay, picked me out and said 3 words; "You have something!" that I grew half an inch (perhaps he said that to someone from every group!), however this sent me home wanting to get more qualifications and join the RYA as a youth member (a very, very good decision! I ticked a box on the form and WON a bike!!!).

York isn't very close to the sea, although I did find the York Cruiser Training Centre and spent 2 hours a week for 6 months studying for my RYA Day Skipper theory, another box ticked. The next summer we didn't have a boating holiday, perhaps my Dad had something bigger planned for the future and I was concentrating on my A-Levels and not sailing.

In October 2012 my Head of College at school, Mrs Hayward, wanted details of my University application for 2013. I told her I wasn't sure why, but my Dad hoped I would defer this for 12 months, so she rang him to ask the reason. Without me knowing at this stage he told her he was hoping that I could go for an interview to be a participant for the Clipper Round the World 13-14 Race. He agreed with Mrs Hayward that she could tell me what was planned so that my entrance to University could be put back by a year. I was called in to Mrs Hayward's office and as she told me what the plan was, I think it is fair to say a few tissues were handed out over the desk, the dream I had was becoming a reality!

For whatever reason, maybe quite a few, I didn't want anyone at school to know what I was hoping to do until I was sure I was going, and A-Levels were out of the way.

In November 2012 I went to a hotel in Leeds with my Dad to meet David Cusworth, Recruitment Manager for Clipper (and fellow Yorkshire man!), for an interview to see if I was a suitable candidate. First question; "Now Sophie, is this you, or is it your Dad that wants you to race a yacht round the world?....." At which point my Dad thought it best to get up and leave the room. Half an hour later I was through the first selection stage.

I then enrolled on a 6 month correspondence course with Chichester Maritime; RYA Day Skipper theory again just in case I had forgotten what was involved before, and in the February half term I did a 5 day Clipper theory Course at Gosport. Easter Holidays another trip to Gosport for a week of Clipper Level 1 training and my first experience on a 'Clipper 68', understanding how to handle a large yacht as a team, man over board drills and testing for sea sickness (so far, so good!) were just a few of the tasks, after which I had to try and put all of the Clipper Race to the back of my mind with A-Levels in English, Geography and Art looming round the corner. Once these were safely out of the way, to Gosport again on 8th June for Level 2 training on another '68' for the week, refreshing our Level 1 skills, plus operating a 4 hour watch system, and going up the mast was great fun, sailing to Dartmouth and Alderney before returning to Gosport, this was then followed by the end of term... and that's where I am now!

I begin my Level 3 and final training tomorrow starting from Gosport, it lasts 7 days, so I shall report back on how it all went then!

Know all about sailing? I think not, I might be on the first rung of the ladder, some great training under my belt and some more to come, with 11 months at sea to look forward to perhaps I will have got on to the 2^nd rung, but to 'know all about sailing' I think you had better ask the RYA and Clipper that one!

Summer Holiday

Perhaps I'm not ready to leave school yet, because I keep going back to them! Yesterday I had the privilege of Settrington Primary School listening to me give another short talk about my Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. With more great questions asked afterwards I think the Malton area has a lot of talented potential journalists. I hope everyone has a brilliant summer holiday.

Having earlier talked about the book 'Team Spirit' that I have just finished reading, for those who are interested I enclose a list of other sailing books that I have enjoyed all with a relevance to yacht racing around the world;

'Sailing Alone Around the World' by Joshua Slocum

Click to view on Amazon

The 'original' Round the World sailing adventure.

'Sea Change' by Ian Dickens

Click to view on Amazon

A great read by the great-great-Grandson of Charles Dickens who completed the 2000-01 race.

'A World of My Own' by Robin Knox-Johnston

Click to view on Amazon

The first ever non-stop solo round the world voyage. A must read for any participant in the Clipper Round the World Race by an icon of Global sailing (Oh! And he happens to be the Clipper Race founder and chairman).

'Race Against Time' by Ellen MacArthur

Click to view on Amazon

Truly inspiring from a very courageous woman.

I know there are many other sailing books to read, but if anyone else has got any suggestions for good reads, let me know.

School's back

Yesterday I went back to school! Not The Mount School but Langton Primary School near Malton. It brought back some great memories having spent seven years there before going on to The Mount. My brother Scott has also enjoyed seven years there and he moves up to Malton School in September.

I went along to give a short talk to the whole school about my Race Round the World on a Clipper yacht over the next year and I showed everyone how they can follow me on my website. Afterwards I was asked lots of really interesting questions ranging from 'What types of food will we eat on the boat?' 'Where are you going to clean your clothes?' and 'What will we do if we meet Pirates?' (I said I had better check the race manual for that one!) 

The hot weather we have been having over the last two weeks will help me prepare for two months time when I cross the Equator on route to Brazil, it will be the first time I have been to the Southern Hemisphere, so anyone who has not done this before is known as a 'Pollywog', I gather there will be an initiation ceremony for me conducted by other members of my crew and respect shown to King Neptune! I shall tell you more about this towards the end September when no doubt I will find out a lot more about it!

'Team Spirit'

While having a great time in Spain last week I took with me a bit of Clipper reading... not the Clipper recommended text book reading, this was 'Team Spirit' by Brendan Hall. Brendan skippered Spirit of Australia to victory in the Clipper Round the World Race 2009-10.

It's a great read, well written and gripping throughout, a must for those who plan to sail with Clipper or maybe just follow the race, also anyone who wants to understand what makes good leadership or maybe even just see what lies ahead for me (gulp!).

Racing round the world on a yacht as an amateur will be hard enough... being the Skipper in charge of 19 amateurs takes it to a whole new level.

Here is an extract from the book... Hold on tight!

I was so worried, I was physically sick.

I've skippered a lot of boats in heavy weather, but I'd never felt like this before. The only thought in my mind was that people die in conditions like this.

The boat lurched sideways as it was struck by another massive North Pacific wave and I was thrown against the wall of the boat toilet. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and the fear was written on my face.

Come on! Be Strong, Brendan. We'll get through this. You'll keep them safe. Man up. Be strong.

Outside, up on the deck of out 68ft racing yacht, the crew struggled to turn the wheel as we were struck side-on by that 50ft wave. The impact was like being T-boned by a lorry. The boat jolted sideways and lay over on its side. A 3-ton wall of white, frothing water flooded over the deck. The helmsman was thrown off balance and fell backwards towards the ocean below, brought to a jarring halt when his safety tether went taut. The back-up helmsman, who was braced when the wave struck, grabbed the wheel and forced it over at the boat struggled upright again. 'Are you ok, guys?' shouted a scared voice from the hatch. The back-up helm gave the thumbs up.

It was pitch black, the hurricane-force storm was reaching its violent crescendo, the crew were frightened and we were smack in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from the safety of land. We had already taken a pounding and the next 12 hours were going to be some of the longest of our lives.

I had to be a strong leader, keep a strong, calm face and tell the crew that we were going to be fine. That's what they needed to hear. But we weren't fine - the waves outside were enormous and every 20 minutes or so we would get smashed by one from an unusual angle, like the one that just got us. Fatalistic as it sounds, I knew that if there was a massive one out there with our name on it, it would get us, roll us over, snap our mast off and possibly drown the crew up on deck. We couldn't see it and we certainly couldn't avoid it.

I gave reassurance, I put on a calm face and stayed strong. We were as safe as we could be in the conditions and we were prepared for the worst. But the nightmare thought remained.

People die in conditions like this.

'Team Spirit' by Brendan Hall, available from amazon.

Click here to view on Amazon.

School's out

I have now officially left school!

Seven happy years at The Mount, life long friends made with students and staff, I'm going to miss them all, although I hope some are going to wave me goodbye on 1st September from Tower Bridge. I have loved my time at the school but am ready for the next challenge.

This coming Tuesday I fly out with my Dad to La Manga in Spain for 4 days, visiting good friends Peter and Saskia Bottomley. Peter has a birthday and I know we will celebrate this in style, with a big trip planned on a catamaran in the Mediterranean (all good training for the Clipper Round the World Race!).