Meet our magnificent mates

  • Natalie Hill
  • 22/04/25
  • The Race
  • 4 mins read
2025-26 Edition

A team of super sailors is set to support our Clipper Race Skippers as preparation for the 2025-26 edition ramps up.  

The First Mates who will be joining Skippers in leading the fleet and its Race Crew around the world have been announced today. It’s a demanding but rewarding role; becoming a Clipper Race First Mate offers invaluable experience to further develop a professional sailing career and is part of the pathway taken by many previous Clipper Race sailing professionals.   

These highly skilled sailors, whose accolades include many Atlantic Ocean crossings, volunteer work with the Tall Ships Youth Trust, and an admirable checklist of offshore races, will work closely with their Skipper, utilising their sailing experience and supporting the goals of their appointed team. They will not only work towards gaining those all-important places on the podium, but apply their knowledge to help create a competent, safe and competitive race team.  

Max Rivers, Deputy Race Director, said: “Our First Mates have started at Clipper Ventures, and this has been a day we have been building up to for several months. It’s great to finally be welcoming them to HQ!  

“Our talented team all hold the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification and have plenty of experience to go with it. From Skippering yachts, carrying out deliveries and teaching RYA accredited courses, they have sailed all over the world and come from diverse maritime backgrounds. We look forward to incorporating their skills and knowledge into the Clipper Race challenge ahead.  

“Their primary role throughout the race is to support the team skipper in all aspects of boat management, meaning this bunch are not only great sailors but also teachers, leaders and mentors for the Race Crew.”  

It’s a return to the race for a few familiar faces, too. Ben Birley, who stepped in as First Mate on Washington, DC for Leg 3 of the 2023-24 edition is back for more. And two Alumni Race Crew – Lorraine O Hanlon and Jade Golder - who picked up their circumnavigators medals last summer are returning as First Mates for the edition.   

So, without further ado, the Clipper 2025-26 Race First Mates are…  

Amy Smith

Somerset, UK

Amy began sailing at eleven and has logged over 22,000 nautical miles, including an Atlantic crossing. A former Chief Instructor at an RYA school, she brings strong coaching skills to her role as Clipper Race First Mate, where she’s excited to embrace offshore racing and develop leadership towards skippering a global circumnavigation.

Ben Birley

Cumbria, UK

Former Royal Marine Ben returns to the Clipper Race as First Mate, having supported Leg 3 of the last edition and trained Race Crew. With North Atlantic and Southern Ocean crossings and a strong leadership background, Ben now shifts full-time into ocean racing, backed by his experience, endurance training, and culinary skills.

Brian Uniacke

Dublin, Ireland

Brian’s sailing journey began with a transatlantic crossing with his father. Now qualified to RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and full-time sailing instructor, he’s also completed the ARC, Fastnet, Round Ireland, and Cape2Rio. Formerly a tech engineer, Brian brings passion and experience as Clipper First Mate, aiming to guide his crew and challenge for podium finishes.

Diana Vega

Isle of Wight, UK

Raised in Cowes, Diana started sailing professionally during the pandemic when she restored a yacht from wreck and skippered it across the Bay of Biscay. It was then on to crewing in the Solent and Caribbean. Now sailing full time, she’s part of the Clipper Maintenance Team and a Clipper 2025–26 First Mate. Ambitious and driven, Diana aims to grow as a leader and one day become a Clipper Race Skipper.

Faith Nordbruch

Isle of Wight, UK

Faith has worked in sailing since 17, progressing from dinghy instructor to RYA Yachtmaster. She’s skippered in the Solent, trained future crew, and helped refit Clipper yachts. Now stepping into her biggest role as First Mate, Faith looks forward to developing offshore leadership skills and inspiring others in ocean racing.

Jade Golder

Surrey, UK

Jade returns to the Clipper Race as First Mate after circumnavigating as Race Crew on the 2023-24 edition, with 50,000+ nautical miles and experience across Clipper training, SKIRR Adventures. Now completing a master’s in mechanical engineering, Jade is ready for her first full-time yachting role, aiming to empower her crew and build her career.

Lorraine O Hanlon

Clare, Ireland

After discovering sailing at university, Lorraine joined the Irish Naval Service and later circumnavigated the globe as Clipper 2023–24 Race Crew. With 40,000+ miles and a background in dinghy instruction and yacht racing, she returns as First Mate, bringing a love of teamwork and a deep connection to the Atlantic.

Millie Apperley

West Yorkshire, UK

Millie started sailing as a child, completing Tall Ships races and gaining 14,000+ miles across the UK, Greece, and Uruguay to the UK via celestial navigation on the Ocean Globe race. Now a Clipper First Mate, she’s eager to help lead her team, strengthen offshore skills, and share her love of the strong bonds formed at sea.

Otto Kulow

Leipzig, Germany/Harrogate, UK

Otto began sailing aged nine and gained extensive experience across Australia, the Mediterranean, and as an instructor in Barcelona. With a Yachtmaster qualification and offshore deliveries under his belt, he now steps up as Clipper First Mate, aiming to develop a top-performing team indistinguishable from professional ocean racers.

Zoe Longley

Derbyshire, UK

Zoe brings diverse experience in sail training, transatlantic deliveries, and expeditions. Originally from Derbyshire, she’s spent recent years on the UK’s South Coast sail training, as well as coaching future Clipper Race crew. Now a Clipper First Mate, Zoe is eager to merge her coaching skills with the challenges and pace of professional ocean racing.

The First Mates will now be based at the Clipper Race HQ in Gosport, where they will be introduced to their Skippers ahead of the next four months of pre-races preparation; honing pre-existing leadership skills, and focusing on resilience, teamwork, and decision-making in high-pressure environments, critical for successfully navigating a 40,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation.