Prepare to race: Meet the team taking you around the world

With an upcoming edition set to be filled with plenty of new – from branding to fleet to route – there are two familiar faces working behind the scenes to prepare for the next circumnavigation.

Hannah Brewis, who debuted on the Clipper Race back in 2019-20 as a first mate, steps into the role of Deputy Race Director. Now on her fourth lap with the race, Hannah’s background includes skippering the Washington, DC yacht on the 2023-24 edition and taking on the role of Race Manager for the 2025-26 edition. Meanwhile, former Operations and Logistics Manager Catherine Udy takes on the role of Race Manager for the upcoming edition.

Image: Hannah on board he Team Washington, DC yacht , November 2023

Led by Race Director, Dale Smyth, the pair continue to work as part of the Race Management Team - responsible for delivering the sailing and race logistics of the biennial global circumnavigation.

The responsibilities of the team are wide-reaching, and include management of the fleet operations, fleet safety, race route planning, weather management, course instructions, sailing staff recruitment and management, and race operations and logistics.

Image: The Race Management Team putting plans into action for the 2027-28 edition

With a new fleet, new stopovers and another round the world race to plan, we caught up with the pair at our Gosport HQ to find out how they were settling into their new roles, what they were looking forward to and how the plans for the 2027-28 edition are getting underway.

Hannah, how has your role changed from your previous position as Race Manager?

H: Good question. It's changed in lots of ways, but also not a lot of ways at the same time. The Race Manager is already very involved with all aspects of the race. So what I’ve done is take on more responsibility in terms of race operations, particularly with boat operations, taking that on more than I had before. I'm also supporting the Race Director, although that is a role of all of the Race Management Team, I'm now deputised in doing so. So, it’s still race focused like my old role, but a lot more involvement in boat operations, and also the recruitment of skippers and mates more so than I did before.

Catherine, your role has gone from moving kit around the world to moving Race Crew around the world. What’s the transition been like?

C: I guess the roles are quite different, really. In logistics I was moving things around the world, the two containers and all the stuff we bring with us, and now I’m moving people around the world. My role as Race Manager is much more involved with helping Dale and Hannah manage the sailing staff, as well as everything to do with customs and immigration for Race Crew and the boats, and making sure the yachts have everything they need on board, for example medical equipment.

How are you adapting to the role, having already done a lap with the Race Management Team?

C: I think having done a race cycle already, I've seen what everyone else in the team has been doing, particularly Hannah as the Race Manager on the last race. Also, having Hannah sit right next to me at work is quite handy for any questions I may have going into my new role. So yeah, it's been a learning experience on the last race and now it's going to be a whole different learning experience for this race. One I am looking forward to, though!

Hannah, you've done the race as first mate, then onto skipper, followed by Race manager and now Deputy Race Director. Do you feel like this was a natural progression for you?

H: Yeah, this is my fourth cycle! So, cut me up and I bleed the Clipper Race. No, it has all felt like a natural progression. I knew that when I went for the role of skipper that I eventually wanted to get into the Race Management Team. So, my goal was there, and the role naturally formed and it felt like the right step.

Although I had experienced the Clipper Race as a skipper, you don’t really get to experience the back – or the co-ordination – side of the race. You kind of get through the first race thinking you’ve learnt so much and gained so much experience, but there’s still so much more to learn. So, it changes things up and makes each edition just that bit more exciting.

Hannah, will there be any changes to your role? Is there anything that you're bringing that you want to change?

H: I think with the whole of the Race Management Team, it's quite hard to define exactly what all of us do. And even if we were to write a list of all the things we did, half of it would be true to the job spec, and half of it would vary based on the day of the week. There’s a lot of in-the-moment problem-solving, so it's hard to box us all into these particular roles. What the Race Management Team actually does is work together with one obvious and common goal, making the race happen, so having a team that knows each other, and that you have already worked with, it makes that a lot easier.

And for you, Catherine, you're not joining a new team, but you're very much joining a new role. How will that support you in your step from a very logistics-focused role to a very people and race-focused role?

C: I think because the Race Management Team always works so closely together, I've always been in the know as to what other people are doing in the team. So having that knowledge of what everyone is else involved in, and us all working so closely together as Hannah said, I think really does help the switch over from parts to people.

Catherine, you've been doing some professional development this week! How is spending a week on a Clipper 68 going to help you in your new role?

C: Yes! I’m doing my Level 1 training this week. I think having the chance to properly sail on the boats because, apart from skipper trials on the last race, I've not really had the chance to go out on the boats. So having a full immersive week of all things sailing on a Clipper yacht will be very educational and exciting.

What are you looking forward to most about your new role, Hannah?

H: I'm excited to get more boaty, the operational aspect of the role has always been a draw for me. I always used to help Max (our previous Deputy Race Director) with that and I enjoy it. The new fleet is also very exciting, so to be able to be as involved as I am with that, bringing the boats into a new edition and being in the role of Deputy Race Director feels quite significant. I'm really looking forward to taking on that challenge and reaping the rewards of seeing the fleet in action.

And hopefully lots of new stops. We go to all of them so they're quite key to our lives as to where we go, so seeing some new ones pop up on the circuit is really exciting as well.

Is it exciting to have the chance to make the role your own, with a new fleet and some new stopovers on the cards?

H: Yeah, it is actually. It feels less like I am rinsing and repeating someone else’s work, and that I’ve actually got a chance to make it my own. It’s a bit more of a challenge to work from scratch, but in a good way. It is quite fun to get to a new place and be like right where are the boats going to go. It’s a fun challenge that I think we are all looking forward to.

Same for you, Catherine, the challenges also translate to your role. Is that exciting or a little bit scary?

C: It is exciting, slash slightly terrifying. The role, especially given the changes across the company, was always going to bring new challenges. But this team got around the world on the last race without any sort of hiccups, so although this will be a new challenge, it’s one that I'm very happy to take on.

And finally, do you feel like feather flags and bunting will always hold a special place in your heart, Catherine?

C: Yes, I think even with the new logistics person that takes over I will still have involvement in where the bunting gets placed in each stopover. I can’t see me letting that part of my job go… just yet!