The Atlantic Alone: Representing Great Britain in the 2015 Mini Transat

<p> I first took to the water at the age of three, in the bilges of an old Wayfarer. Since then I have always craved the sensations and sounds of being afloat!</p> <p>  </p> <p>   I started to dream of offshore solo sailing at the age of 9, after visiting Pete Goss's Team Phillips project in Totnes, Devon. I climbed into a replica cabin of the giant catamaran that he was to race solo, non-stop around the world, and decided that one day, I would do something equally as challenging and adventurous...</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> In my early teens, I started to race in an RS Feva and Laser Radial, training with the SE Regional Squads.  Later, the dare devil in me took to sailing a 29er solo (extendable tiller extension required!), and then an RS 700.</p> <p>  </p> <p> At 18, I began working as a 1st mate onboard a Clipper and a Whitbread 60 with Blue Box Sailing, and was also selected for the British Keelboat Academy (BKA); my first experience of Yacht racing and campaign management.    </p> <p>  </p> <p> After graduating as a Speech and Language Therapist, I applied for the Artemis Offshore Academy. I was the only woman selected for the 2012  squad, which allowed me to start training and racing in both the Mini 6.50 &amp; Figaro classes.    </p> <p>  </p> <p> In 2014 I acquired a boat and just enough sponsorship along with my life savings to start competing on the Mini 6.50 circuit...    </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="633-1436471788" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/217425/633-1436471788.jpg">    </p> <p>  </p> <p> I have since gained over 4,000 nm through racing solo, and am fully qualified for the 2015 Mini Transat - a solo race across the Atlantic, in a boat just 21 foot long!    </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Boat_2-1436471836" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/217426/boat_2-1436471836.png">  </p>