Windsor's Sarah Jane Robinson, a complete novice to sailing, has returned home after conquering one of the most challenging legs of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The 33-year-old spent 26 days crossing the North Pacific Ocean from South Korea to Seattle, facing towering waves and relentless storms.
A Daunting Introduction to Sailing
Robinson had zero sailing experience before joining the race. Early in her journey, she found herself at the helm during a fierce storm. 'We went up this giant wave. We got to the top and looked down, and he just says, oh sh**. And I feel him grab my shoulder to hold me to the back of the helm cage around the steering wheel, so you don't fall over. He said he'd never seen a trough that big. Our boat is 70 feet, and even with our boat in there, it looked huge. And then we just went down,' she recounted.
The Clipper Race Experience
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, launched in 1996, transforms landlubbers into seasoned ocean racers. Amateur crews pay to participate, guided by professional skippers and first mates on identical 70-foot yachts. The 2025-2026 edition began in Portsmouth, UK, in August 2025, covering 40,000 nautical miles over eight legs. Participants can sign up for one leg or the entire 11-month circumnavigation.
Race manager Hannah Brewis described the experience as 'relentless. You can't stop and it won't stop. The only way is to keep going.'
Robinson's Journey
Robinson's leg, Stage 9 known as 'The Big One to Seattle,' spanned over 11,000 kilometers. According to the race description, it features 'long ocean crossing, extreme weather systems,' with powerful low-pressure systems, heavy seas, and cold conditions. This was exactly what Robinson sought.
A natural explorer, Robinson had previously spent 10 months in 2022 traveling solo across North America in a van, returning with two dogs. 'There's just so many things I want to do and so many interests that it's hard trying to fit it all in,' she said. 'It's a little easier when you're travelling full time.'
Robinson works remotely as a Toronto court reporter, allowing her to pursue such adventures. Her successful completion of this grueling leg marks a remarkable achievement for a novice sailor.
