“I think there’s an adventurer in all of us.”

Meet the Clipper 2025-26 Race crew: Sara Brewer

Bristol born Sara Brewer, 68, has worked in London as a PA for the chairman of an international bank for almost her entire working career.

Looking for her next thrill, after already gaining a Guinness World Record, she plans to take on the entire circumnavigation on the 2025-26 edition. We caught up with her after she had completed her Level 2 Training to see why she chose to take on this epic challenge:

Welcome back to land Sara! Tell me why you chose to take part in the Clipper Race?
I'm doing the complete circumnavigation because firstly, I like the idea of going around the whole world on wind power. How awesome is that? And secondly because I don't think I could cope with seeing the boat sail away and me not being in it. Every time I have been on one of these training weeks, I’ve formed a family, and it's such a bond that to say goodbye is actually quite hard. I'm getting tearful even now!

Image: Sara Brewer at Clipper Race Training Centre in Gosport

And was that the draw to joining? The team camaraderie?
No, it was actually a very happy find. But it wasn’t that, it was the ocean. I rowed across the Atlantic with a friend of mine, 3,000 miles from La Gomera to Antigua. I'm currently the world record holder for the oldest woman to row across an ocean.

Image: Sara and her friend completing their row across the Atlantic

Amazing! So, would you describe yourself as quite an adventurous person?
Well, isn't it funny? Because I wouldn't describe myself as being adventurous. You know, being in the same job for over 50 years is not exactly the sign of a free and adventurous spirit. But I don't know, I guess something turned and yeah, I just wanted to get out there. And I love it, I absolutely love it.

Image: Sara taking on her Atlantic rowing challenge

What have you found most interesting about the sailing so far?
I think what I've been absolutely blown away by is the evolution of jobs on the boat, and the work to make the boat move. Everybody has to work in harmony, and everybody has to work sequentially, and I like that. I’m not there yet, I'm still very much learning but there is just something about it which is really very beautiful. Once everybody is in sync, the boat just sails along. And I must admit I do like it when the waves crash about, and the boat goes crashing down into the waves and then rises up again. I do get a thrill out of that.

Image: Teamwork in action on the Clipper Race

And how did your Level 2 training compare to your Level 1? How have you progressed?
It was actually very good because at the end of Level 1 I sort of knew what needed to be done in isolation, but I couldn't quite put it all together. My Level 2 has enabled me to put it all together and I'm really pleased that the way Level 2 is structured is that you spend a lot of time going over what was done in Level 1 and building on it, but not too much. It’s very well thought out, especially for those who've never sailed before. It’s very reassuring because I think I came along to this stage of training thinking I've not done enough yet, how am I going to put it all together? And in Level 2 you do.

You mentioned that you've never sailed before. Is this your first time on a big boat?
Yes, that's right. I did competent crew many, many, many years ago. But to be frank, the fellow told me that throughout that I was quite useless. So, I'm not really counting that!

Image: Clipper Race Level 1 and 2 training takes place a Clipper 68 yacht

Did you keep a tab on the Clipper 2023-24 Race, watching and getting excited for your turn?
Yes, definitely. I was interested to see everybody when they got back and the reaction of the circumnavigators. People really aching to see their friends and family, but at the same time not wanting to say goodbye to their Clipper Race family. It was an interesting dynamic. And I think probably it is going to be quite emotional.

And who will be that family member waving you off?
My husband and my cat, Rocky, who will not be coming to wave me off, but he'll be very much on my mind. Just the two of them. And of course, my sisters and my cousins and my friends and some friends from the Rowing Club.

And finally, how do you feel about taking this challenge on?
When we all introduced ourselves at the beginning of the training, listening to what people do, it's so interesting and you think where else would you meet people like that and get along with them in similar circumstances? This is a very rare opportunity to work alongside lots of different people from all over the world. They're lovely people and we're all quite similar in what we're wanting to get out of this. I think there's an adventurer in all of us.

Inspired by Sara's story? Find out more about signing up for the next race edition here.