what was going on. I needed to know where I was
going. Sometimes these obstacles help you find that.”
Since beginning solo racing a decade ago, Pip has
earned major accolades, but these were never her
primary motivation – it was always more about the
personal challenge. “Medals really mean nothing
to me,” she says. Rather, it’s about finding out “what
I am capable of, and what I can truly achieve when
I make no excuses and push myself all the way.”
This extends to life away from her boat, too. To
date she has completed four ultra-marathons and has
also been working towards a masters in psychology
that she plans to continue after the Vendée Globe.
Somewhat incredibly, despite all of this, she insists
that she is actually a little bit lazy.
One obvious question is why? Why has she put herself
through years of pain and isolation and pressure? There
is a little shrug. “I’ve always loved it. I’ve loved being in
the middle of the ocean, loved being out of sight of land.
You can detach yourself from everything around you.”AHEAD OF THE RACE
As the start line nears, the build-up campaign for the
Vendée Globe has become all-consuming, taking upevery waking minute with planning and fundraising.
Pip describes it as “everything” to her and such events
come with huge financial costs – this one is an estimated
£1.3 million, covering everything from equipment and
qualification races to logistics and the actual boat itself- meaning that Pip has to be extra resourceful when
it comes to raising money. Alongside a crowdfunding
campaign, Pip and her team have also initiated a
syndicate, allowing local businesses to contribute
smaller amounts and partner with the project.
Despite their obvious success, money is always tight.
However, one thing that Pip has not been short of is
volunteers – and she concedes that even accepting the
fact that she needed help has been one of the toughest
parts of the whole campaign. “One of the things that is
difficult for me is that I have always been the problem
solver for other people, I have always been the person
“I now do things once to prove that
I can, then a second time to push
myself as hard as I possibly can.”
Left: Transat Jacques
Vabre done, and onto
the Vendée Globe
Above: Pip and her
sister in Cambridgeshire
in the late 1970swhatwasgoingon.I neededtoknowwhereI was
going.Sometimestheseobstacleshelpyoufindthat.”
Sincebeginningsoloracinga decadeago,Piphas
earnedmajoraccolades,butthesewereneverher
primarymotivation– it wasalwaysmoreaboutthe
personalchallenge.“Medalsreallymeannothing
tome,”shesays.Rather,it’saboutfindingout“what
I amcapableof,andwhatI cantrulyachievewhen
I makenoexcusesandpushmyselfalltheway.”
Thisextendstolifeawayfromherboat,too.To
dateshehascompletedfourultra-marathonsandhas
alsobeenworkingtowardsa mastersinpsychology
thatsheplanstocontinueaftertheVendéeGlobe.
Somewhatincredibly,despiteallofthis,sheinsists
thatsheis actuallya littlebitlazy.
Oneobviousquestionis why?Whyhassheputherself
throughyearsofpainandisolationandpressure?There
is a littleshrug.“I’vealwayslovedit.I’velovedbeingin
themiddleoftheocean,lovedbeingoutofsightofland.
Youcandetachyourselffromeverythingaroundyou.”
AHEADOFTHERACE
Asthestartlinenears,thebuild-upcampaignforthe
VendéeGlobehasbecomeall-consuming,takingup
everywakingminutewithplanningandfundraising.
Pipdescribesit as“everything”toherandsuchevents
comewithhugefinancialcosts– thisoneis anestimated
£1.3million,coveringeverythingfromequipmentand
qualificationracestologisticsandtheactualboatitself- meaningthatPiphastobeextraresourcefulwhen
it comestoraisingmoney.Alongsidea crowdfunding
campaign,Pipandherteamhavealsoinitiateda
syndicate,allowinglocalbusinessestocontribute
smalleramountsandpartnerwiththeproject.
Despitetheirobvioussuccess,moneyis alwaystight.
However,onethingthatPiphasnotbeenshortofis
volunteers– andsheconcedesthatevenacceptingthe
factthatsheneededhelphasbeenoneofthetoughest
partsofthewholecampaign.“Oneofthethingsthatis
difficultformeis thatI havealwaysbeentheproblem
solverforotherpeople,I havealwaysbeentheperson
“Inowdothingsoncetoprovethat
I can,thena secondtimetopush
myselfashardasI possiblycan.”
Left: Transat Jacques
Vabre done, and onto
the Vendée Globe
Above: Pip and her
sister in Cambridgeshire
in the late 1970s