Journalist Pip Hare started ocean racing relatively late. It was not until 2011 that she took part in the Mini-Transat. This was followed by the Fastnet Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre. At the age of 46, she finally celebrated her premiere at the 2020/21 Vendée Globe, finishing in 19th place with a 22-year-old boat on which she had to replace a broken rudder in the roaring Southern Ocean.
She then bought the VPLP-Verdier foiler "Bureau Vallee 2" (formerly "Banque Populaire VIII") built by Louis Burton in 2015. In collaboration with technical director Joff Brown, the boat underwent a comprehensive refit and was fitted with new, much larger foils. At the current Vendée Globe, she was the second Briton in the race alongside Sam Davies and was in a good 15th place when the mast broke on 15 December about 800 miles south of Australia.
Always optimistic despite mast breakage
After just three hours, Hare managed to set up an emergency rig and set course for South Australia at a speed of four knots. In her first statement, the tough woman was already looking ahead again, giving herself and her supporters hope: "It's not the end, it's never the end. I hope that when I get to the coast, we'll have a really good plan to get 'Medallia' sailing again and return to Europe."
Reaching Melbourne harbour two weeks later, she expressed gratitude that she had stayed "in one piece" and was able to make it to safety. "I'm out of the race, but the courage and determination I need to compete also helped me deal with a situation that could have ended disastrously," she said. "And in a strange way, I enjoyed the slower pace of the journey to Australia. At the end of the day, I'm a professional sailor because I love being on the sea, and that's where I was, just not in the way I expected."
Pip Hare also in book and podcast
The Vendée Globe sailor has also written a book that is well worth reading. Her biography "In my element" contains authentic life lessons on topics such as success, strength and challenges alongside her racing experiences. A reading sample is available here. The book will also be available at the Delius-Klasing Verlag stand during the fair - perhaps even with a signature at the meet and greet on Saturday at 13:00?
Also in the YACHT podcast Pip Hare describes the fatal mast break and how she dealt with it. The Brit also talks about the importance of the respect and support she received when she arrived in Melbourne.
Saturday, 17 January and Sunday, 18 January at 12:00 noon: Pip Hare at YACHT in Hall 10, Stand G18
The "Medallia" skipper is not only a great protagonist for solo races around the world, she also likes to talk about her adventures at sea in a captivating way. Fans and listeners can look forward to entertaining talks by the Brit from 12.00 noon on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday from 13:00 at the meet and greet also had the opportunity to meet Pip Hare in person.
