'I'm sailing around the world and want a record'

2 weeks ago 1

PA Media Pip Hare looks over the edge of her yacht toward the sea as she fastens a rope around a metal pole. Her blonde and grey hair is windswept and she is wearing a large red waterproof coat.

A sailor is aiming to be the first woman to finish a 24,300 mile (45,000km) race around the world for a second time.

Pip Hare, 50, was born in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire and grew up in Suffolk - where she learned to sail on the River Deben.

On Sunday she will begin the Vendée Globe race from the French coast, sailing solo and non-stop for three months around the world, before returning to France at the end of January.

She previously took on the race in 2020 finishing in 19th place and said she could not wait to perform in the 10th edition of the race.

"For me this is my version of a World Cup or the Olympics," she explained.

"It's the Vendée Globe race - it's the toughest sailing race in the world."

PA Media A drone image of the Medallia yacht sailing on the sea. It has large black sails and a blue body. The name Medallia is printed on the side of the yacht's body in white lettering.

"Being a human being on a high performance boat that is flying above the surface of the waves in a place in the world that so few people will ever see.

"You are the interface between man's ingenuity and the power of nature.

"I can't wait to go out and perform at the top of my ability in a sport that I love."

'Power of nature'

Hare will set off from Les Sables-d'Olonne spending the three months completely alone on her 18.28m (60ft) long yacht named the Medallia.

She explained the 40 sailors competing will take on the weather and huge waves all while operating the high performance boats.

"Being a human being on a high performance boat that is flying above the surface of the waves is a place in the world that so few people will ever see," she said.

"You are the interface between man's ingenuity and the power of nature.

"I can't wait to go out and perform at the top of my ability in a sport that I love."

When asked what she would do about sleeping, Hare said: "You sleep for about 20 minutes and maybe in the southern ocean when there's no traffic around and the weather is very stable you might be able to sleep for an hour or an hour and a half."

Her food has been entirely prepared by her team and Hare will eat between 3,500 and 4,500 calories a day.

Getty Images Pip Hare poses for a photograph aboard her Imoca monohull "Medallia" at the starting site of the 10th edition of the Vendee Globe around the world monohull solo sailing race, at the Vendee Globe village in Les Sables-d'Olonne, western France. Her blonde/grey hair is tied back and she is wearing a navy jumper.

About 200 sailors have taken part in the Vendée Globe over the years, but only 114 have actually managed to cross the finish line due to the extreme conditions.

The sailors will follow a route south past the continent of Africa and then head east toward Australasia.

They will then sail around Antarctica, before sailing close to the tip of South America and up through the Atlantic Ocean towards France.

Hare said she was often asked if she got lonely during her sailing.

"I always say in answer to this question there is a massive difference between being lonely and being alone," she said.

"I choose to be alone, nobody chooses to be lonely.

"I know I have my friends, my family, the people who follow the race, I know there are so many people thinking of me, wishing me well, and I know they're going to be there when I get home."

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