At 23, wrapping up an engineering degree and, in my parent’s view, possessing all of the skills to shake up the corporate world, make lots of money, and release my parents from their state of worry, my wayward intentions caused a bit of a fright. I wanted to cross an ocean, and in truth, I wanted to keep going around the world. It’s a good thing for my parent’s sanity that the Clipper Round the World race had yet to be conceived. This race, comprised of eight legs across the globe, had chosen the port of Oban as the start of it’s last leg enroute to Portsmouth, UK. We had to be back in Oban anyway to welcome onboard our friends Dave and Suzy for a week of Scottish sailing and culture. The chance to view the start of this epic race was a cherry on the top. Eleven boats have been competing since the race started in September 2023 and each crew sails on an identical boat, a custom built 70 foot racing machine led by a professional skipper and first mate. The remainder of the 22 person crew is comprised of amateur sailors paying their way – up to $70,000 for the complete journey. That price might have been a serious reality check for 23 year old me. I know I wasn’t the only one with a fitful start to young adulthood; somewhere along the way I found myself working a respectable job, making money and extending the life expectancy of my parents. Still it would have been an amazing experience to skipper one of these go-fast boats.
