Cape Town - In an ambitious pursuit of adventure and environmental stewardship, 27-year-old marine scientist, Nina Faure Beaulieu from Cape Town, is gearing-up for an epic journey as a crew member in the Clipper Round the World Race.

Beaulieu will call a 70ft stripped-back ocean-going yacht home for two months as she ventures into the world's most challenging oceans next year.

The yacht race is a biennial sailing event featuring identical yachts with qualified skippers and first mates, with teams of amateur sailors.

The route is divided into eight legs including six ocean crossings.

Beaulieu will take on Leg 1 and 2 of the race from August to October.

The first challenge of Leg 1 will be to negotiate the fast running tides around the UK and Northern France.

Covering over 9000 miles, Leg 2 will see her crossing the Atlantic and racing towards her homeland, South Africa.

“I think I’ve always been quite adventurous at heart. 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,” Beaulieu said.

Despite possessing no prior sailing experience, Beaulieu is ready to embrace the unknown, forging new bonds with her crew and confronting the challenges that lie ahead.

“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 sessions. 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. I’m looking forward to that moment when everything clicks, and the crew moves as one,” Beaulieu said.

However, the journey is not without its challenges.

When asked about her apprehensions, Beaulieu candidly admits that: “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.”

Adding a personal touch to her journey, Beaulieu said her mother will join her for the ocean crossing, sharing in a unique bonding experience like no other.

Beaulieu is currently pursuing a PhD in shark and ray conservation at Nelson Mandela University, actively engaged in the protection of marine ecosystems.

Her research, which aims to harmonise science and policy in creating sustainable fishing practices, has already gained recognition – her master’s research was featured in Netflix’s acclaimed series, Our Oceans.

sibuliso.duba@inl.co.za

Cape Argus