​Meet the Crew: Linda and Sophie Crocker

Meet the Crew: Linda and Sophie Crocker

Mother and daughter duo Linda and Sophie Crocker will be racing against each other on Qingdao and Ichor Coal during the South Atlantic Leg 2 and The USA Coast-to-Coast Leg 7 of the Clipper 2015-16 Race. They are both extremely competitive and regularly make comments about beating each other in the race.

“It's all friendly banter but deep down we each want to win! It’s going to be a great experience when we have both crossed an ocean competing against one another and catch up the other side,” said Linda.

"I look forward to being in port first to welcome her safely in - she would tell you the reverse!"

Teenager Sophie, 18, will also be the youngest female crew member on the race.

Name: Sophie Crocker

Age: 18

Nationality: British

Occupation: Student

Signed up for: Clipper 2015-16 Race Legs 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 on Ichor Coal

What made you sign up for the Clipper Race?

Since a young age I have been very passionate about boats, and within the past seven years this fascination has mainly revolved around sailing. I have also always loved travelling and planned to go round the globe in my gap year. When I heard about the Clipper Race it seemed like the perfect adventure to take part in, and I was so lucky the 2015-16 race fell at the perfect time for me.

What are you most looking forward to?

Waking up and knowing I have a full day of sailing to look forward to – being able to go straight up on deck and sail, not having to cast off or wait for the right tides.

Also the fact that I will be travelling all over the world and each stop will bring me into a new culture and lifestyle. I am also looking forward to meeting a wide variety of new people all with a new or old passion for sailing.

What does it mean to you to be competing against your mum?

Mum originally discovered the race in St Katharine Docks, London, when she saw the boats at the Race Finish in July 2014, and thought it would be good for me. She then realised she could also get time off work to compete, and that it would be brilliant to do it together.

It's going to be such a great experience to share the adventure together, and to be able to explore the ports together after we finish.

What has been your most memorable moment during training so far?

Having spent 24 hours in bed with seasickness, finally getting out of bed without being sick and getting up onto deck and seeing the coast of France in the distance was great.

What qualities do you think you will bring to the team?

I have a positive personality which I hope will keep team moral high. I am also a keen problem solver, and enjoy finding solutions to challenging tasks. I feel I am a good team player but would be happy to step into a leadership role as and when required.

How are you preparing physically and mentally?

Physically, I am trying to eat healthier foods and am fitting as much sailing in as possible before the start date to make sure I am as ready to sail as I could possibly be. I feel that mental preparation is a much harder thing to do. My mental preparation is thinking of the challenge ahead, and reading up on other people’s experiences. That will help me cope with being so far away from home with people who I may have never met before.

Do you have a message for someone who’s thinking about entering the next race?

If you are thinking about signing up for the next race and you have the time, you should do it. I would advise that you do some sailing before you definitely decide and perhaps some before the Level one training so you have a basic understanding. I feel that this would make your training more enjoyable. If you want an adventure that will take you to new places and will introduce you to new people, then this is the race for you.

Sum up your feelings about the race in three words:

Bring it on

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Name: Linda Crocker

Age: 48

Nationality: British

Occupation: Physiotherapist

Signed up for: Clipper 2015-16 Race, Legs 2, 7 on Qingdao

Why did you sign up to the Clipper Race?

I have boated all my life as has Sophie, so I guess the sailing bug has been passed from mother to daughter. I can’t wait to be on the open sea and racing.

Have you made any sacrifices to compete in the Clipper Race?

To be the best at anything always requires a sacrifice of some sort, whether that’s putting training before your social or family life, following a rigid diet, or simply putting in the hours.

What does it mean to you to be competing against your daughter?

Initially I was keen that we were on the same boat to share the adventure, but then decided I would like to be "me" rather than "Sophie's mum" on the race. Sophie was always keen to be on different boats so in the end it has worked well.

What will be the hardest thing about the race?

Leaving my husband and son behind. During training, coping with seasickness and a migraine have been tough.

What qualities do you bring to the team?

Mothering, fun and risk-taking. A good team needs to have a good sense of humour and will to work as a team. It's like being in a big family.

Are there skills that you feel are transferable to the race?

As a Physiotherapist I guess some of my skills may be required, but I am also an organiser and problem solver.

-- If you would like to join Linda and Sophie and race the world’s oceans this year, please get in touch via the apply section of the website. We are now also recruiting for the Clipper 2017-18 Race.