crew allocation day: when the race gets real
There’s something surreal about sitting in a room full of strangers and knowing that, in a matter of months, you’ll be trusting these same people with your life at sea.
Crew Allocation Day for the Clipper Round the World Race isn’t just another box to tick on the training calendar – it’s the moment the race starts to feel real. Training foulies are traded for identities, handshakes evolve into team huddles, and suddenly, you’re no longer just a participant. You’re part of a crew.
There’s a hum in the air – nerves, caffeine, and a quiet buzz of anticipation. You feel it as you walk into the room: the unspoken questions hanging overhead. What team will I be on? Who will I sail beside? Who will lead us through the inevitable storms ahead?
Up until now, the Clipper Race has been a dream in motion. But Allocation Day gives that dream names, faces, and – if you’re lucky – a team sponsor to rally behind.
For me, the whirlwind was grounded by a few familiar faces – people I’d trained with back in the spring of 2024. We’d shared early learning moments, laughter, and deep cleans. As skipper and first mate pairs were introduced one by one, crew bracelets lit up in the colors of their assigned teams. I watched friends celebrate their new chapters, wondering when my moment would come – and whether I’d know anyone on board.
With just one team left, Heidi – a friend from Level 2 training and a fellow circumnavigator – and I exchanged a glance. Our bracelets hadn’t lit up yet. Then came the announcement: Skipper Phil Quinn and First Mate Faith Nordbruch of team Qingdao. A moment of suspense. And then – our wrists glowed. Relief and joy hit all at once. A big cheer. A bigger hug. This was it. This was our team.
After crew photos on the steps of Guildhall, we moved into breakout sessions. It was there we got our first look at each other – not as strangers or training peers, but as crewmates. Conversations dove deep, fast. We talked about our “whys” – why we signed up, what we’re chasing, what we’re leaving behind. Some, seeking adventure. Some, navigating major life transitions. Some, returning to settle unfinished business. I was struck by the sheer variety of motivations, and how those stories would soon shape the dynamic on board.
But the true highlight of the day came later – at the team social. After a full day of logistics and information, we finally had the chance to slow down and connect one-on-one. That’s where I began to sense the spirit of Qingdao – not in announcements or briefings, but in quiet, curious conversations. The kind that eventually carry me through 3am watches and 30-foot swells.
There are only a few of us sailing around the world on Qingdao. Most are what the Clipper world affectionately calls “leggers” – those joining for one leg…or a few. As a circumnavigator, I found myself imagining what it will feel like to greet these fresh-faced crew months from now, after I’ve already logged thousands of nautical miles. One person asked, “Imagine yourself on Leg 6 (out of 8). What do you look like? What are your motivations? How have you changed from today?”
That question hasn’t left me since. It reminded me why I love being around people from all walks of life – they challenge me to reflect, to grow, even before we’ve set sail. And it grounded me in the reality of how much this journey will shape me. How much it will shape all of us.
We’re lucky – our team already has a name, sponsor, logo, and colors. But our identity? That’s something we’ll build together. It will emerge slowly, over shared decisions, mistakes, wins, laughter, conflict, and growth. It won’t come from a logo on a sail or a team jacket – it will come from the small moments of trust and camaraderie we create along the way.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far, it’s this: the race doesn’t begin at the start line. It begins with the people. The ones who will carry you through squalls, sunrise watches, and everything in between.
After Crew Allocation Day, I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
