Around the world in 80 animals - Little penguin

No Christmas season would be complete without mentioning my favourite animals - the penguin. Luckily for me, when I'm in Sydney and Hobart this time in 2017, I might get to see some adorable Little Penguins in the wild!

Little Penguin fast facts

Aka: Fairy penguins
Type: Bird 
Diet: Carnivore (pilchards, anchovies, warehou, red cod and barracouta and a small quantity of squid)
Height: 13in (33cm) - the smallest penguins in the world
Weight: 2.2 lbs (1kg)
Group name: Rookery (on land) or Raft (in the water)

Did you know? The deepest little penguin dive recorded is 72 meters. An average dive in search of fish is between 5 and 20 metres

Did you know? Waddling is the most efficient form of movement for penguins. Little legs and big feet make movement awkward on land but waddling helps by raising a penguin's centre of mass, allowing the penguin to swing its body forward.

Around the world in 80 animals - Albatross

As I prepare to joint the Clipper Race 17-18, I'm building up a list of all the animals I hope to see during my circumnavigation. This week the spotlight is on an animal that I hope to see in Legs 2, 3, 4 and 6 - the albatross.

Albatross fast facts

Type: Bird 
Diet: Carnivore (mainly squid or schooling fish)
Average life span in the wild: Up to 50 years
Wingspan: 6.5 to 11 ft (2 to 3.4 m) - the longest of any birds
Weight: Up to 22 lbs (10 kg)
Group name: Flock
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) human:

Did you know? Albatrosses have a special place in maritime lore and superstition, most memorably evoked in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Did you know? Albatrosses can circumnavigate the globe in just 46 days - that puts the Clipper fleet to shame!

Did you know? Mating pairs produce a single egg and take turns caring for it

Keeping busy

As I'm getting ready to unplug for the Christmas holidays and spend some quality time with my family, I've been wondering - what do you do for downtime on board during the Race? 

Working and living in the watch system means your life is going to be pretty hectic a lot of the time, trying to getting as much sleep as possible when racing along at 45° and trying to gain those crucial miles over your competitors.

This is actually a question that came up in my interview. I think I said something vague along the lines of reading, sudoku, and playing cards. One thing I know I definitely didn't say was having an egg and spoon race on deck. But apparently that's what the crew of the LMAX Exchange yacht got up to in the Southern Ocean - they had an egg and spoon race on deck in one of the most notoriously wild oceans on the planet. And they still managed to win the race from Cape Town to Sydney.

Mad they might be, but it certainly makes for some entertaining viewing - enjoy!

Around the World in 80 Animals - Humpback Whales

Over the coming months I'm going to be building up a list of all the animals I hope to see during my circumnavigation. This week the spotlight is on The Australia Leg (Leg 4) from Western to Eastern Australia.

Humpback Whales

Fast facts:

Type: Mammal 
Diet: Omnivore (krill, plankton, and small fish)
Length: 48 to 62.5 ft (14.6 to 19 m)
Weight: 40 tons (36 metric tons)
Protection status: Endangered
Group name: Pod

Size relative to a  bus:

Did you know? Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fin, called a fluke, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it

Did you know? Females nurse their calves for almost a year

Paperwork

Since returning my Crew Contract, paying my deposit and becoming an official member of the Clipper Race 17-18, I have been bombarded with a mountain of paperwork to fill out before I can take part in my Level 1 training next March -

• Crew biography
• Medical report and assessment, with GP approval
• Insurance application (who knew this would be so expensive!!)
• Onshore contact form
• Passport photos
• Copy of passport

I also need to think ahead about which vaccines I'll need (Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Diphtheria, Polio and Yellow Fever) and which visas I'll need for which countries (Australia, China, USA). My to-do list just keeps on growing!

Time to delve in - see you on the other side...

"But what about your career?"

Since announcing that I'm a signed up crew member for the Clipper Race 17-18 the question almost everyone asks is "But what about your career?" In response I tell them that taking part in the Clipper Race 17-18 will test my physical and mental strength in extreme conditions, when I'm sleep deprived, too  hot, too cold, sore all over and cannot take a break. This is no holiday - more people have climbed Mount Everest, than have sailed around the world. 

To me the Clipper Race represents a wealth of opportunity to test myself to my physical and mental limits (and find out where those limits are), learn new skills, and explore the world in a truly unique and exciting way. Taking part in the Clipper Race is also a chance for me to be part of something bigger than myself – working to support the invaluable work of British Red Cross and Official Race Charity UNICEF, and inspiring others in my local community and company to push themselves to take on new and exciting challenges every day.

Many of the skills I'll learn out on the world's oceans are transferrable and I hope will make me a better Editor. 

• Innovation and creative problem solving - when you're 2000 miles from the nearest land and something crucial breaks, you have to learn to think creatively about how to fix it
• Developing team tactics and strategy - it is a race after all!
• Dispute resolution - when you're stuck living in the bunk below someone for weeks or months at end, there is no room for lingering arguments or holding grudges
• Leadership - I hope to take on the role of Watch Leader for part of my circumnavigation, which involves taking responsibility for all the crew in a Watch and working closely with the Skipper
• Teamwork and collaboration - it is impossible to sail the yacht if you don't work together as a team and collaborate to achieve your collective goals
• Communication skills - in order for a crew to function effectively and safely, all crew members need to communicate clearly, well, and often
• People skills - living in close quarters with 20 strangers for weeks at a time with little contact with the outside world will certainly improve my people skills

These are all transferable skills that I will have for life. I believe that the lessons I learn out on the water will help me to improve how I do my everyday work and, ultimately, they will help me develop my career in publishing. That's why I'm happy to take time out of my career now - the investment I make now will pay dividends for the rest of my life.

If you or a company you know would like to join as one of my Crew Supporters and take advantage of being associated with this global event with a viewership in excess of 900 million people then please contact me for more information about the rewards I am able to offer my supporters and the types of support sought.

Kit, kit, and even more kit!

Now that I've confirmed the dates for my Level One training (yay!), I've been sent my basic kit list. Looking at it though, I noticed it was missing a few important things, like a sleeping bag liner, a swimming costume and a waterproof watch. 

With the help of Mirigli: The Great Escape to the Oceans, a seasoned pro from the 11-12 Clipper Race, I came up with the list below. This list is my starting point, and I'm sure it will be trimmed as I go through training and discover what I really need and what's just a waste of space. It's important to keep weight in mind as well, as typically crew are only allowed 20kg each for their whole trip - a heavy ship is a slow ship, and it is a race after all!

Think I've missed something crucial or have something listed that I'll never use? Let me know in the comments below!

Recommended Kit List

Foul weather gear

• GORE-TEX Ocean Pro Smock
• GORE-TEX Ocean Pro Hi-Fit Trouser
• Rio Jacket
• Breaker Soft-Shell Jacket
• Fast-Dri Silver Polo

The above is provided by Henri Lloyd as part of the Clipper Basic Kit Package.

Clothing

• Thermal base layer (merino wool)
• Long sleeved top x 2
• Legging style bottoms x 2
• Mid-layer jumpers (long-sleeves, quick drying, fleecy, synthetic fibres, breathable) x 2
• Mid-layer bottoms (breathable) x 2
• Mid-layer waterproof jacket x 1
• Shorts (quick drying) x 1
• Swimming costume x 1
• Woolly hat/beanie x 1
• Hat (wide brimmed/peaked) x 1
• Neck warmer/Buff (quick drying) x 1
• Gloves (close fitting and quick drying) x 2

Footwear

• Socks (synthetic)
• Thin, high wicking x 5
• Thicker insulated x 3
• Rubber soled deck shoes (non-marking soles) x 1
• Sailing boots (durable, heavyweight rubber boots with thick neoprene lining) x 1
• Gaiters (knee high) x 1

Additional Kit

• Sleeping bag (4 season, synthetic fibres and quick drying) x 1
• Bivvy bag (lightweight, breathable and waterproof) x 1
• Sleeping bag liner (silk, rectangular) x 1
• Stretch terry fitted sheet (single) x 1
• Pillow (small with waterproof cover) x 1
• Rucksack (60l, waterproof) x 1
• Dry bags
• 30l x 1
• 20l x 1
• 12l x 2
• 5l x 2
• Head torch (weatherproof with option of red light) x 2
• Sailing knife (folding, locking blade openable with one hand, with a blunt tip, and some of the blade must be serrated) x 1
• Waterproof watch (non-corroding with stopwatch and alarm features) x 1
• Carabiners/ S-biners (non-corroding) x 5
• Water bottle (0.75l) x 1
• Travel bungee washing line x 1
• Towel (quick drying) x 1
• Laundry bag (large, thin stuff bag) x 1
• Sun protection (spray, SPF 35+) x 4
• Sunglasses (prescription, polarised) x 2
• Handheld electric fan x 1
• Personal toiletries, medication and spare glasses

If you would like to donate any of the items above (new or good quality second hand), please contact me using the form here to discuss the various rewards I am able to offer Kit Sponsors.

Around the World in 80 Animals - Bottlenose Dolphins

Sailing around the world isn't all waves and starry skies - I'll be seeing some amazing wildlife along the way too.

Over the coming months I'm going to be building up a list of all the animals I hope to see during my circumnavigation. These will range from birds, to mammals, to marine life, and will help open my eyes to the incredible variety of life out there in, on and above the oceans of the world.

This week the spotlight is on Leg 1, English Channel

The Bottlenose Dolphin

Fast facts:

Type: Mammal - they surface often, usually 2-3 times a minute
Diet: Carnivore - mainly bottom-dwelling fish, although they also eat shrimp and squid
Length: 10-14ft (3-4.2m)
Top speed: 18 mph (30kph)
Weight: 1100lb (500kg)
Global population: 600,000 approx.
Average lifespan in captivity: 45-50 yearsColouring: Grey (varies from dark grey to light grey on underside)
Group name: Pod

Size relative to a  6ft man:

Did you know? Bottlenose dolphins have been observed to breach (jump) up to 16ft (4.9m) out of the water, landing with a splash on their back or side

Mount Everest

While reading up on the Race (I'll admit it, I'm starting to become a bit of a Clipper Geek), I came across this startling fact - 

More people have climbed Mount Everest than have sailed around the world

Over 4000 people have climbed Everest, but just a fraction of that number have circumnavigated the world by sea. I couldn't believe it! I grew up thinking that hardly anyone climbs Mount Everest as it's so physically and mentally challenging, and never really thought about how hard it is to sail around the world in comparison.

Thinking about it though...

• Climbing Mount Everest takes around 2 months in total, while the sailing around the world takes about 11 months. 
• The temperature range on Everest only has a small variance, from pretty darn cold at -20°C to even colder at -35°C, while during a circumnavigation temperatures range from freezing cold at 0°C to the sticky energy-sapping heights of the tropics at 35°C and above. This kind of variance puts a huge strain on you physically (and mentally) as you adjust from hot to cold and back again, while coping with the consistently sub-zero temperatures of Everest is far more manageable. 
• On Everest, the furthest you will ever be from the nearest human will be around 2.1 miles. Sailing across the Pacific Ocean, the nearest human being will either be 248.5 miles away on the International Space Station (if it happens to be passing over) or around 2000 miles away in Japan or Alaska. 

Put it like that, and I'm not at all surprised more people have tackled Mount Everest than have circumnavigated the globe by sea.

Remote

"At times, the closest humans to you will be those on the International Space Station"

While I knew that crewing in the Clipper Race would take me to some isolated places, the realisation that at times the nearest human being outside the Race will be in space adds a whole new meaning to the word 'remote'.

Coping with that isolation will be tough, but luckily I'll have 22 other brave (and/or crazy) souls to keep me company during the 5 week crossing. Might have to pack a star chart just in case we get a bit of down-time on deck and see if we can pick out which dot has the nearest humans on it and give them a wave.

Pushing the limits

At a Team Campfire* recently, I was praised for always pushing myself to do better, learn more, and improve myself and how I do things. Although it may sound strange, before I heard my colleagues say that to me, I didn't even realise I was doing it. To me, that's just what I do, whether that's getting an author to submit their manuscript on time or applying for Clipper 17/18.

I didn't realise either that constantly putting high demands on yourself and pursuing opportunities to really test your limits wasn't all that common either until I saw the reactions of friends and colleagues when telling them I'd been offered a Clipper berth - 

      "Incredible - won't it be hard though?"
      "That's just the kind of crazy thing you would do" 
      "You don't like to take things easy do you?" 

By taking on the Clipper Race 17/18 and engaging with my local community, I hope that I can inspire others to take on new challenges and really push themselves so that when they do something amazing, people say "that's just the kind of amazing thing they would do."

*For those of you who haven't heard of Team Campfires, we didn't sit around roasting marshmallows, we sat in a circle taking it in turns giving each other positive feedback on our work (while sitting around a giant pile of Starburst, Chocolate Orange Segments and marshmallows)

Learning curve

I haven't even begun my Level 1 training yet, but the Clipper learning curve is already pretty steep. This time last week I had no idea how to build a website, or code in HTML to customise widget features (I didn't even know what a widget was), or write a sponsorship proposal. Now I've done all three, I'm starting to realise that being part of Clipper 17/18 will help give me skills I never expected it to - and I can't wait to dive in further!

New normal

"There will no doubt be challenges between now and the start line and so mental strength is the first thing that will be tested. Every crew member either doubts their own ability or sanity. J So you’ll be in good company there. Once you’re on the start line the physical challenges begin, but you will absolutely deal with those. Partly because you won’t have any choice. When we don’t have a get out option, we amaze ourselves with just how strong and resilient we can be."

- Vikki Gillard, Clipper Ventures

In the middle of a stressful afternoon at work yesterday, I received this perfectly timed and reassuring email from Clipper telling me that feeling crazy right now is normal. It's good to know that doubting my sanity is totally normal, as it's now been a week since I received my crew contract for Clipper 17/18, and I still can't quite believe I got a berth! It's also just what I needed to hear now that I'm spreading the word among my friends and family and they keep calling me crazy (in a good way).

Crazy is the new normal. Words to live by!

First Gold Level Supporter!

I'm thrilled to announce that I have my first Gold Level Supporter, Michelle Matthews, who has generously committed to a monthly contribution worth £1000. With Michelle's help, I can now sail another 786mi / 1266km - that's 1/5 of Leg 2 from South America to Southern Africa!

Here's a taste of what her support will look like when I'm out racing across the South Atlantic:

Why Clipper 17-18?

I have always had a fascination, love, and healthy respect for water and the sea, and when I first heard about the Clipper Race I immediately knew that I wanted to take part. Taking part in the Clipper Race to me represents a wealth of opportunity to test myself to the limits (and find out where those limits are), learn new skills, and also to explore the world in a truly unique and exciting way.

While taking part in the Clipper Race I intend to raise sponsorship for British Red Cross, a charity that is very close to my heart. I have already raised over £1200 this year by taking part in walking and hiking challenges, and I can't wait to take to the seas for this incredible charity and help raise funds and awareness of the work that they do.

Taking part in the Clipper Race is also a chance for me to be part of something bigger than myself – part of a team, working to support the invaluable work of British Red Cross and Official Race Charity UNICEF, and inspiring others to push themselves to take on new and exciting challenges every day.