Meet the Clipper Race Crew
Adventure-seeker Kate, from Perth in Australia, had always imagined herself, one day, sailing around the world. Having started to sail recreationally around 10 to 15 years ago, in her local waters on a regular basis, she worked her way up to from Competent Crew to Day Skipper. After thinking more seriously about what she had put on her bucket list of things to achieve, Kate realised she needed to take action to make the dream come true.
Kate said: “About a year ago, I lost a couple of friends who were quite young, and it really made me think how you only get one shot at this life, and you have to make it happen every day. Challenges like this you will remember for the rest of your life, so I just decided then and there that I was going to do it!”
From a young age, Kate started sailing with her dad, and from this moment she has continued on the water. She shared: “I used to crew on a 50 foot yacht, sailing out of Melbourne and the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. I then started doing Wednesday racing and spent Saturdays sailing around the cans and really enjoyed it.”
In 2014, Kate first heard about the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, she explained: “I was just looking at doing something really different for when I had some holiday, however, the timing didn’t work out.” The idea of taking part in the race had never left her thoughts, she said: “It took some planning over a couple of years to fit it in with life and make it happen, as well as fitting it in with my work”.
Name:
Kate HollingOccupation:
Head of ProcurementHometown:
PerthLeg:
3Team:
Imagine your KoreaCredit:
James Robinson
Ready to take action on her dreams, she decided it was time to fulfil her adventurous side, she continued: “It’s very different to the normal day-to-day and I’m really excited about the opportunity to learn from others I’m sailing with as well as push myself to achieve something really remarkable”.
The non-professional sailor will be participating in Leg 3 of the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
Kate is a keen explorer, and while she is taking a years sabbatical from work to achieve an action-packed adventure, trekking, climbing the Apls, ski touring, volunteering with field scientist and including sailing into her home country! Kate explains how the excitement is building for the challenge that lays ahead; “as it has got closer, more and more people who I know from home or from travelling around the world have all started to get quite excited, and their excitement is building mine too. There have been a few surprises from people who have said that they will travel to Perth to come and see us in”.
With lots to look forward on this race, sailing home will definitely be one of the highlight moments, Kate describes returning home, saying: “Towards Western Australia, the first thing we’ll see is Rottnest Island and I’m sure we will smell the coast and we get those amazing sea breezes. It will no doubt be quite emotional.”
Her words of wisdom on taking action on your dreams are: “What are the things that are really going to define you, and be the things you tell your kids one day? And how have you made the world better through being here? You won’t remember the normal day-to-day stuff – it’s the big things. And what better adventure than sailing around the world?!”
To learn more and follow Kate on her journey, visit the Imagine your Korea team page on the Clipper Race Website.
