A bowl of apple crumble shouldn't be enough to break you. But after months at sea, cold, exhaustion, and a team slowly coming apart, sometimes the smallest things carry the weight of everything else.

Between sips of cocoa on our last anchor watch, Graham looked at me and said, "I don't think I've ever gotten first in anything." It hit me: it wasn't just him. After twelve stages of pushing from behind, our team had one last chance to change that. What it took to get there is the part that made it matter...

I thought I knew what crossing the finish line of a circumnavigation would feel like. A few weeks before race finish, I even wrote down my predictions. Reading them now, I'm struck by what I got right - and what I couldn't possibly have understood until I was standing on the other side of it. It turns out you can prepare for the finish line, but not for what comes after.

For nearly a year, I struggled to put my circumnavigation into words. Not because I had nothing to say, but because I had too much. Between ocean crossings, sleepless watches, changing crews, and the constant rhythm of life aboard, the experience became too big to capture in real time. Now that I’ve completed my circumnavigation, I’m finally ready to begin unpacking the stories, lessons, friendships, and adventures that shaped this journey.

Level 4 training is designed to feel like the real thing - full watches, mock races, and every evolution under race conditions. We swapped out the faded red Clipper foulies for our official yellow “banana suits” and set off across the English Channel, battling seasickness, testing storm sails, and learning how to push the boat to its limits. By the time we hit our 24-hour mock race, we’d made every mistake in the book - wrapped spinnakers, lost halyards, even ripped a sail - but we came out laughing, competitive, and ready for what’s next: the real race.

One unforgettable week, one unforgettable crew. During my Level 3 Clipper Race training, a boat full of strangers became the most fun and cohesive team I’ve ever sailed with. Between kite hoists, MOB drills, karaoke in Cowes, and spontaneous knot lessons, we found rhythm, laughter, and the kind of connection I hope to find on every leg of the race.

Crew Allocation Day marks the moment the Clipper Race stops being theoretical and starts feeling real. In a single afternoon, strangers become crewmates, and the dream of sailing around the world gains names, faces, and stories. In this post, I share first impressions, early connections, and what it felt like to meet the crew I’ll cross oceans with.

The quiet between updates was hard. My teammates – all of whom I'd only just met that week – were unbelievably supportive. They asked for updates, cheered for Salty, and checked in on how I was doing. It was a great reminder that supporters need supporters too. I was learning what it feels like to be the one watching from the other side.

What started as a few easy questions turned into a deep dive: into who I am, how I show up for others, and how I want to tell my story. Applying for the Clipper Race wasn’t just logistics - it was the beginning of stepping fully into the life I want.

I’ve officially signed up to sail around the world as part of the 2025–26 Clipper Race - one of the only global sailing challenges open to amateur sailors. It’s equal parts surreal and exhilarating. This is more than just a bucket list item; it’s a deep dive into uncertainty, growth, and the kind of challenge I’ve been craving. Welcome to Clipper Chronicles - where I’ll share the highs, lows, prep, and whatever salty chaos unfolds along the way.