Meet the Crew: Nina Faure Beaulieu

“I couldn’t pass up the chance to cross an ocean on a sailboat. It feels like a missing piece of my ocean puzzle.”

27-year-old Marine Scientist Nina Faure Beaulieu is no stranger to adventure. With a passion for trail running, freediving, scuba diving, and surfing, she’s now adding offshore sailing to her list of pursuits.

“I think I’ve always been quite adventurous at heart,” Nina says. “We love adventure and adrenaline in our family—it’s just who we are. I enjoy trying new things, and the Clipper Race is an incredible opportunity to push myself in a completely new way.”

Nina has had a unique connection to the ocean from an early age. She said: “My first memory of the ocean is swimming on my mum’s back when I could barely swim myself. That bond with the sea has shaped both my personal and professional life.”

British born Nina now lives in Cape Town, where she is pursuing a PhD in shark and ray conservation at Nelson Mandela University. Invested in protecting marine ecosystems, Nina’s work focuses on the intersection of science and policy, aiming to create sustainable fishing practices. Her passion for the ocean has already earned her recognition, with her masters research featuring in Netflix’s Our Oceans series. “It’s a complex space,” she explains. “You’re balancing people’s livelihoods with the need to protect vulnerable species. A third of all shark and ray species are threatened by fishing, and improving fishing practices could make a huge difference. I think it’s so important to share your science. It’s one thing to do the research, but it’s another to ensure it has an impact.”

Nina’s Clipper Race journey began when her mum, Nathalie, who completed Leg 7of the 2023-24 edition, asked if she wanted to join her for a leg on the upcoming edition.

“When mum asked me if I would want to join her for Leg 1 on the Clipper 2025-26 Race, I of course said yes! I couldn’t pass up the chance to cross an ocean on a sailboat. It feels like a missing piece of my ocean puzzle.” she says.

Despite her love for the sea, offshore sailing is a new challenge for Nina, explaining: “I’ve never sailed before, which is strange because my granddad and some of my mum’s cousins were sailors. But it never made its way into our family—until now.

“I have loved the training levels. It’s amazing how quickly you form bonds with people when you live in such intimate spaces. Your whole world becomes the boat, and life feels so much simpler.” Talking about teamwork on board, Nina added: “I’m looking forward to that moment when everything clicks, and the crew moves as one.”

Talking about the challenges that may lie ahead, Nina added: “I’ll probably be scared in big swells, and I do get seasick when it’s very rough. Those will be things to overcome, but the rewards will hopefully outweigh the fears. I’m looking forward to seeing the stars at night. Nothing beats a starry sky in the middle of the ocean.”

Nina is also excited about sharing the experience with her mum: “It’s going to be pretty unique to do a big ocean crossing together. I’m looking forward to that.”

And as for the rest of her family? “My mum’s thrilled, of course, and my sister is happy to cheer from land and keep up with the social media updates!” Nina laughs. “But they’re all very supportive, which means a lot.”

Want to join Nina on an ocean-going adventure? Find out more about signing up for the next race edition here.