Future Crew Catch Up - Meet Anna Siraut

In this week’s Future Crew Friday we catch up with Anna who had no previous sailing experience before she heard about the race.

Since signing up, Anna has completed three of the four levels of compulsory training at our UK training centre. Crew can also train at our base in Sydney, Australia and complete Levels 1 to 3 of the four compulsory courses there right through until June 2015.

In Level 3 crew members take to the water on board a Clipper 70 for the first time. Read Anna’s experience on board what will be her new home for a month.

Name: Anna Siraut
Age: 48
Nationality: British
Occupation: Prison Investigator
Signed up for: Clipper 2015-16 Race,Leg 2

What led you to sign up for the Clipper Race?

Your advertising is the best in the world! About 5 to 6 years ago I was at that stage in my life where I wanted to do something for me and I was originally going to climb Mount Everest. One day I opened the paper and I saw a picture of people queuing to get to the summit of the mountain and it put me off. I live in central London and I kept seeing the advert, not long after that I signed up.

What made you sign up for Leg 2?

I had signed up to do the Clipper 2013-14 Race but wasn’t able to do it due to work. I ended up taking part in the Rolex Fastnet Race with Clipper Events instead last year and it didn’t put me off! In fact, it made me want to take part in the Clipper Race even more.

I chose Leg 2 because about 15 years ago I lived on St Helena, a small island in the South Atlantic where Napoleon was exiled to. My husband is a transport economist and he was headhunted to visit and see if it was feasible to build an airport, which is now being built.

Having flown down to Cape Town, South Africa to take the Royal Mail ship to St Helena, I have a mad desire to sail in that region and past it.

What has been the highlight of your Clipper Race experience so far?

The highlight for me is that I have finally understood how to helm properly and whilst we were flying a kite. One of the big things for me on this course is that I now have the confidence that I can helm. One of the race training mates spent a lot of time with me, teaching me how to trim sails and what to look for, so I am really happy on the mid deck now too.

I have kept my sailing going in between courses, I have found that once people know you have trained with the Clipper Race they know you are trained to a certain standard and are more than happy for you to come onto their team. I have done a couple of boat moves and was part of a racing team last season.

What have you found the most challenging so far?

It has been cold, seriously cold but I do know that my base layers work so that’s been good. It’s also my first time on a Clipper 70, it may only be a little bit bigger but everything is an awful lot heavier.

In a nice way, it has been challenging being the only lady on board my Level 3 training because all the men are so nice and accommodating!

What do your family and friends think about you doing the race?

They think I am stark raving bonkers and my husband keeps telling people I am having a mid-life crisis! My son has gone from being embarrassed by it all to being supportive and I think I have inspired him and my daughter.

The 2015-16 race starts August 30 and is now more than 85 per cent full. To find out how you can join our intrepid group of adventurers, click here.