#ReasonToRace: Melanie and Jasmine Morris

In this special Mother’s Day edition of our #ReasonToRace 'Meet the Crew' series, we are getting to know a mother and daughter duo, Melanie and Jasmine Morris, who will be taking on Legs 5 and 8 together in the Clipper 2019-20 Race.

Name: Melanie Morris

Age: 59

Occupation: MD

Hometown: Perth, Scotland

Legs: 5 and 8

Name: Jasmine Morris

Age: 29

Occupation: Designer

Hometown: London

Legs: 5 and 8

There were two main reasons why Melanie and Jasmine decided this was the challenge for them. Firstly, they both liked the idea of celebrating major milestone birthdays at sea - Melanie will turn 60 in March next year, and Jasmine will be 30 in February. But most importantly, the pair wanted to celebrate that they could still take on an adventure like the Clipper Race together.

Jasmine explains: “My mum has had breast cancer twice. I was eight years old when she got diagnosed the first time and we almost lost her.

“That she is able to do this, she will be 60 years old, she’s a single mum, got through breast cancer both times and fought hard to be here for me and my brother - I’m just so proud of her.”

The feeling is mutual, with Jasmine’s mother Melanie adding: “I’m so proud of Jasmine as well because it hasn’t been easy for her with all the situations that have been going on and I just think it is an amazing thing.

“We always underestimate our capabilities. My experience is that people think they cannot do things but for me, I believe that you can. Even if you have difficulties in life, sometimes I think by setting yourself a challenge, to really do something that your heart desires, everything is possible.

“This is a celebration of being 30 and 60 years old respectively, and surviving breast cancer twice over; it’s just saying live your life.”

Melanie and Jasmine both started sailing together in 2000 and decided that the 2019-20 edition of the race was right for them after cheering the fleet into Liverpool at Race Finish last year. They have been hard at work getting ready for their sailing adventure, and are halfway through the four levels of compulsory training.

Jasmine says: “Level 1 training was great. Although we went together we were put onto different boats but still had equally good experiences. During Level 2 we were on the same boat and it was tough - not because we were sailing together, but because the conditions were quite intense.”

“It has been great fun doing the training,” says Melanie.

“I live in Scotland and Jasmine lives in London so it is just nice to have time together. We both have a long term goal of being better sailors, to be more confident and competent, and the Clipper Race is already helping us to do that.”

If you would like to join Melanie and Jasmine and take on the race of your life, there are still opportunities to sign up for Leg 5, which includes an Equator crossing and short, fast racing in Asia. To learn more, follow the link below.