Geography A Grade for Race’s Youngest Female Crew Member

Sophie Hetherton discovered her A grade in A-level Geography today just 17 days before she is due to set sail in the world’s longest ocean race. Sophie, 18, from York will be the youngest female member of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race when it departs from London on Sunday 1 September.

The 40,000-mile ocean marathon takes eleven months to complete and will take Sophie and the 670-strong international crew across six continents with exotic destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Sydney, Singapore, Qingdao, San Francisco, Panama, Jamaica, New York, Derry-Londonderry and the Netherlands before returning to London’s St Katharine Docks for Race Finish in July 2014.

Sophie said: “Sailing round the world and learning about the oceans, geography, nature and different countries we visit will be the perfect way to cement what I have learnt and inspire me for my future endeavours.”

Clipper Race Chairman and Founder, legendary British sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “Congratulations Sophie! You will certainly get to put your geography knowledge to good practice over the next eleven months. On behalf of the Clipper Race, we wish you all the best.”  

Designed to provide everyone - regardless of sailing history - the chance to experience the exhilaration of circumnavigation, the Clipper Race has turned over 3,500 novices into ocean racers since its inception in 1995. This is where teachers, students, sports stars, bankers, lorry drivers, nurses, web designers and more team together to take on the world’s toughest sailing conditions. Skippered by professional yachtsman, each team will battle to complete eight different legs over eleven months, all vying for the overall top prize. 

Sophie also scored B results in Art and English and has been accepted at the University of Warwick where she will study History of Art when she returns from her gap year at sea.