Katie started sailing some 10 years ago, like many, on a cruise in Greece with her family. For young teenage Katie that was to be the beginning of a long road to the start of the 2009 edition of the OSTAR, the legendary single-handed transatlantic race from Plymouth in the UK to Newport RI in the States.
The Original Single Handed Trans-Atlantic Race (OSTAR) is the world’s oldest solo ocean challenge, dating back to 1960. Founded by ‘cockleshell hero’ Blondie Hasler and first won by the circumnavigator Sir Francis Chichester.
Some of the world’s greatest sailors have taken part including; Eric Tabarly, Pete Goss, Loick Peyron, Francis Joyon, Mike Golding, Michel Desjoyeaux and Ellen MacArthur. The Atlantic is the only judge and allows no room for mistakes, emphasising that the race truly is inspired by legends and sailed by heroes.
After her first cruise in the Mediterranean on a Yacht, Katie joined the Tamworth and Lichfield Sea Cadets where she continued sailing. At 15 she started sailing dinghies solo and crewed in the GP14 circuit.
In 2004 Katie gained her Day Skipper qualification and her passion for sailing was to step up several gears, she became involved with the Ellen MacArthur Trust and was responsible for taking children recovering from cancer and leukaemia on sailing trips in the Solent. Katie gained confidence and in 2006 she decided to follow in the footsteps of Ellen MacArthur and set off to sail single handed around britain on her Corribee Electra raising funds for the Ellen MacArthur trust along the way.
As a result of this adventure Katie was nominated for the Raymarine YJA Young Sailor of the Year Award 2006.
Katie qualified for the OSTAR in style, taking first place in the bluQube Solo 1000.
Katie is now studying Yacht Production and Surveying at Southampton Solent University while preparing for the OSTAR 2009.
For more information about Katie's Ostar campaign visit her website.
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