Lorraine O’Hanlan

Role: 1st Mate

Though hailing from Cork in Ireland, the Clipper Race is the most amount of travelling first-mate Lorraine O’Hanlan has done in her life. Discovering an interest in sailing in her early 20s, Lorraine is clearly very passionate about getting out onto the water, having participated in last the race as well as the current one. The prior race was her first time ocean sailing.

“I love ocean racing; I like the big long distances”.

Despite the brief experience, Lorraine clearly possesses insightful knowledge into how races are one and lost.

“You can fall behind, but because they’re such long races you can fight and come back up. If you fall behind it’s usually because you haven’t had a good 24 hours, maybe your speeds haven’t been great, maybe your sail plan hasn’t been as good for the conditions you have compared to other boats. In another 24 hours with a better sailing plan, superior speeds and current, you can start knocking miles off.”

As the first mate, she has the role of assisting the skipper and crew, “you’re almost like the second in command.”

Above all, Lorraine most enjoys the direction and sense of purpose that sailing gives.

“It’s almost like a simple world. You have one objective which is to make the boat go as fast as it can. Regardless of the weather it’s always this amazing environment, it really puts everything in perspective.”

With the team achieving their first podium position in the race, Lorraine hopes to find similar success with the subsequent legs of the race.

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