Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2013 | Page 37
INTERVIEW
Picture: Above right Chloe Sandell
But my dad and I were both up for
it, so I postponed my final exam and
headed for Panama,” said Chloe.
She and her dad Chris – who had no
sailing experience – joined the other
three crew members to embark on the
journey of a lifetime as part of the
Oyster World Rally. She continued:
“On the first leg the weather was
good, but our main worry was that it
was a 13-year-old boat so everything
on it was outdated and breaking. We
headed for the Galapagos Islands; six
days at sea and our first big test. My
dad had a few ‘what am I doing here?’
moments, especially when we started
to sink three days into the journey.
“When we looked under the
floorboards the water was about an
inch away from the battery bank – a
close call."
Chloe and the crew spent a week
at Galapagos, diving and snorkelling
with seals, before setting sail to the
‘stunningly beautiful’ Marquesas
Islands. She said: “It was another trip
of 3,010 miles, taking three weeks,
and we worked shifts of two hours
on, eight hours off. You weren’t
going to hit anything, because there
was nothing else about, but it was
important to look after old sails. And
the two experienced members had to
also teach the three novices how to
sail.”
During a two-week break on the
islands the crew really enjoyed
bartering with the locals – normally
wine for fresh fruit or rosewood
carvings – before setting off to the
Tuamotus Islands. Chloe continued:
“The water was crystal clear and there
were fish everywhere - the best diving
conditions imaginable. We even swam
with dolphins and small sharks.”
Visiting the Leeward Islands and
Windward Islands, including Tahiti,
completed the epic three-month
voyage. Chloe added: “The trip proved
to me I am definitely suited to sea life,
and I don’t want to work in an office.”
While she was away Chiltern
contacted her saying they didn’t
sponsor for Plymouth anymore. But
they would sponsor her for Warsash
Maritime Academy, and she is very
much on course for ‘nautical stardom’,
currently on her way to completing
a degree in Navigation and Maritime
Studies. The aim is to graduate as a
deck officer, and ultimately first officer
/captain of a cruise liner, superyacht
or even a tanker, combined with
qualifications for all land-based duties
within the industry.
* flyingfishonline.com
www.visitislandlife.com
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