10 Dec PIP HARE AND HER IMOCA RETURN TO POOLE
We were delighted to welcome back Pip Hare and her IMOCA 60 to Poole on Friday 5 December late at night, nearly 11 months after the dismasting that brought her 2024 Vendée Globe campaign to an abrupt end. The mast broke around 800 nautical miles south of Australia and Pip rigged a jury mast and sailed approximately 800 NM to Melbourne.
In the months that followed, Pip and her team faced a series of challenges, from removing foils and the keel, to transporting parts, re‑rigging the boat, and ultimately sailing her home to Poole Harbour, more than 400 days after she first set out.
This year, Pip moved from solo racing to team sailing, joining Canada Ocean Racing’s “Be Water Positive” campaign for The Ocean Race Europe. She sailed as watch‑leader with a four‑person crew across several legs of the race, applying her extensive offshore experience and seamanship to a high‑performance foiling IMOCA.
Over the past year, Pip has also shared her experiences beyond racing with the publication of her new memoir, “In My Element”, an account of the mental and emotional rigours of life at sea; a story of resilience and passion that resonates far beyond the world of sailing.
Kerrie Gray, Marina Manager at Poole Quay Boat Haven, said: “It is fantastic to see Pip and her IMOCA safely back in Poole. Her journey over the past year has been extraordinary and we are proud to provide a home for such an inspiring sailor and person.”.”