Winter Lecture: Caroline Bowen ‘Clipper Race’

Come and hear Caroline’s story
at our Winter Lecture on
Sunday 11th March

When you bump into an old friend it is always hard to do justice to your last year with a short sound bite. It is harder still to explain a year at
sea, racing a 70ft yacht around the world with a crew of 15, as part of the Clipper Round the
World Race. For a year I raced across oceans, showered once a month and brushed my teeth
with salt water. I didn’t see my own reflection, have my own bunk, have access to email or know what day of the week it was.
There were points I wondered if I had underestimated the challenge, the determination and
resilience required, as I grappled with the possibility of failure.

My motivation for completion moved between a desire to “achieve something remarkable”
and a fear of losing face with all those I’d shared my dream with. As the race continued
my confidence that I’d complete it grew as the toughest weather and passages were behind
us, and I took time to enjoy the wonder of being at sea and travelling thousands of miles
from land and other people.