As the fiercely contended Round the World Clipper Race gets ready to hit the water, we catch up with Guildford’s Nikki Henderson, the youngest ever skipper to take on the gruelling 40.000 nautical mile challenge
The brainchild of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, The Clipper Race is a feat of endurance that sees 12 teams battle it out across the oceans of the world aboard identical 70ft yachts.
Unlike other races, the Clipper enables ordinary men and women to compete alongside a professional skipper and we managed to grab a few minutes with Nikki Henderson from Guildford, who at 23, is the youngest person in race history to take the helm!
Q: How did you get into sailing?
A: I have sailed with family and friends since I was 13. A brief stint in the Sea Cadets confirmed that a career at sea was for me and when I left school, it was a yachting career that I established. Since 2006, I have sailed 38,000 miles during which I has skippered three ARC races across the Atlantic (twice winning the Youngest Skipper Award), the Caribbean 600 - an inshore race circuit, two Cowes Weeks, co-skippered two Fastnet campaigns and sailed over 10,000 miles in offshore deliveries. As an RYA instructor for over three years I have taught over 200 students and I also launched a Sailing and Watersports centre in Denver, Colorado.
Q: How do you feel about being chosen as one of the twelve skipper in the 2017-18 Race?
A: Very excited! At the beginning, I think we all [the skippers] felt some anticipation of what’s to come next but now we have started our preparations, I can’t wait to get going with everything; the crew training, race preparations, and finding out who my crew will be.
Q: What are you most looking forward to?
A: I am most looking forward to working with my crew and forming a team that’s rock solid.
Q: What do you want to get from the race?
A: I know how fun competitive racing can be and being part of a team that is driving for the podium is very motivating - but for me, this isn't really about winning. Keeping my team safe, looking after our boat, and sailing with poise and style all the way around the world is my main ambition. Alongside this, I want to create an extraordinary life-changing experience for every member of my team - to inspire them - and to show them why ocean racing is the best thing in the world.
Q: How do you feel about being the youngest ever Clipper Race skipper?
A: It’s great. I hope I can be an inspiration to other young people to go and achieve what they set out to do; to push boundaries, challenge themselves and to know that if they put their minds to it and work exceptionally hard, they can achieve those goals.
Q: Does being so young add to the pressure?
A: There is pressure for all of us to perform, but I am confident in my experience skill level and maturity. Occasionally it does feel like eyes are on the skipper, like you have something to prove, but I have always been the youngest in my career so I have got used to any added pressure. When you are on the water it’s your skill set, knowledge and experience that is important, not age.
Q: Which ocean are you most looking forward to crossing?
A: I’m looking forward to crossing the Pacific. It’s the most challenging and longest one of the Clipper Race. To tick that off the list will be amazing – it’s definitely the biggest challenge. The sense of achievement at the end for my crew will be life changing.
Q: What do your friends and family think about it all?
A: My friends and family are so supportive and encouraging of everything I set my mind to, and the Clipper Race is no exception. My family are planning to come out and visit during some of the stopovers, so I will be looking forward to seeing them in between legs of the race.
The race begins in Liverpool on August 19 and will see teams first race across the Atlantic to South America; the South Atlantic to Cape Town, South Africa; across the Southern Ocean’s Roaring Forties to Western Australia; around to East Australia taking in the famous Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race en route; back into the Northern Hemisphere to Qingdao, China via Sanya; across the mighty North Pacific to West Coast USA; to New York via the famous Panama Canal; and then a final Atlantic crossing before arriving back to the UK in Summer 2018
- To keep an eye on Nikki and her crew throughout the race, visit: clipperroundtheworld.com
Check out our Interviews Section for more conversations with amazing local folk
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on all our latest articles
Sign up to our Weekly Newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and stories
Looking to advertise your business in Surrey or SW London? Check out our 11 different lifestyle magazines with a combined monthly distribution of over 210,000
