Thursday, May 22, 2025

My Clipper Race highlight? When the mast came down in 80 knot squall

Rio Hockey Olympian Hannah Macleod on high seas, tragedy and fulfillment when she took part in the 2017/18 round the world race

“Going into the wind, the boat’s at a 40 degree angle and you’re basically living on monkey bars,” reflects Rio golden girl Hannah Macleod on the several months she turned from hockey player to novice sailor four years ago. “You come out on deck at night, it’s 2am, clouds are out, moon covered, no stars, it’s pitch black. It feels like someone is hammering your head with a cricket bat with the way the boat hits the waves. You get thrown up with each one and you are trying to hold yourself down on deck for four hours.”

Macleod, who had never sailed, wanted to be taken out of her comfort zone. And, boy, did she receive the full package when she signed up for the 2017-18 edition of the Clipper Round the World Race, the endurance sailing event which trains up everyday folk to undertake an ocean crossing across six continents in a race which takes almost a whole year to complete.

Continue reading...

Unlock ALL our premium content for 3 months for only £1...and get use of our subscriber-only app for a better reading experience.

Simply select Monthly or Yearly subscription and use coupon 3FOR1 when prompted.

Already a subscriber to our website? Login

Do you have a feature or story idea? Get in touch with us!

Hockey Factory Shop

spot_img

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More from Author

Surbiton respond to England Hockey Cup withdrawals

A final failed to be played for the first time in...

Hollie Pearne-Webb retires as an England and GB hockey great

There was the spin and the scoop inside the post. Then...

England Hockey Finals: Reading women and Surbiton men land surprise titles

Surbiton ended Old Georgians' three-year stronghold in English men's domestic hockey...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img