For as long as I can remember I wanted to sail in the (Volvo) Ocean Race. But when I still worked in business, I didn’t have a clue about how to get ‘a foot in the door’. Coming from the Frysian lakes the big boat world was somewhat a mystery to me.

Then I started living my Plan B. I left my job, sold my house and went as an unpaid crewmember on a catamaran across the Atlantic Ocean. This is exactly 3 years ago.

Since then I crossed the Atlantic Ocean 6 times, did around 30.000nm (of which 80% as a skipper), got my Yachtmaster Ocean (Sail and Power) and became a Cruising Instructor. Somewhere in between I decided to participate in the Vaurien (dinghy) World Championship and together with my Spanish crew we won the (female) title. My second time.

The dream of taking part in the (Volvo) Ocean Race became more tangible. I got to know people, some of them vouched for me and my CV made the rounds. But… unfortunately no door has opened yet.

I also started training people for the “race of their lives” at Clipper. And slowly I became excited about this race. A plan B in my plan B.

But is it? Now that I am mentally & physically preparing for the 20.000nm ahead in temperatures going as low as 0 degrees and expected winds of 30+ knots, I am not really sure if this race is in any way less of a race.

To compare:

The (Volvo) Ocean Race is sailed with 8 professional sailors on a 65ft race yacht. The Clipper Race has 2 professionals onboard – a skipper and a mate. The rest of the crew – about 20 on a 70ft race yacht – are people like you and your neighbor. People with a dream, a goal, a mission. From an 18 year old with a gap year to a 70 year old looking for excitement and any other person in between. Everybody with their own reason. There are a handful ‘round the world-ers’ and they are evenly divided over the 11 boats, but the majority of people do 1 or 2 legs. So we have to deal with crew changes every leg.

Each crew member has to train 4 x one week in Gosport (Solent, UK). During the training they do not necessarily learn how to sail, but they are learning how to be safe on specifically the Clipper Yacht. To do the revolutions like sailchange, reef, tack, gybe, winch handling etc without losing any fingers or go overboard.

And don’t forget: The ocean does not differentiate between the (Volvo) Ocean- or Clipper Race.

So that brings me back to the question if the Clipper Race is a plan B in my plan B..

It is not.

I am proud, excited and extremely eager to set sail onboard one of the yachts (I have not been allocated a team yet). I have a race heart and I do not ever start a regatta without the ambition to win. With that in mind my main focus is to make sure the crew is safe and having fun. Who knows how far that will bring us..  

Stats

Leg 6     THE MIGHTY PACIFIC                   8.000nm             0 – 15 degrees Celsius
Leg 7     USA COAST-TO-COAST                 7.200nm             15 – 35 degrees Celsius
Leg 8     ATLANTIC HOMECOMING           4.400nm             15 – 25 degrees Celsius

Read more about the race restart: https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/news/article/clipper-race-to-restart-in-2022-as-it-receives-special-event-permit-from-the-philippines