My heart has always craved extreme adventure, and lately that pull is steering me towards a journey that intertwines the thrill of offshore sailing with the art of storytelling.

My dream is to become an offshore journalist and sports media creative, and sailing as a crew member in the 2025-26 Clipper Round the World Race is the perfect opportunity to dip my toe in the water, literally. The Clipper Race symbolizes endurance, teamwork, and the awe-invoking beauty and power of the ocean. Packed with my aptitude for weaving the written word, and enough sunscreen to smother a small village, and I am ready to embrace the challenges ahead to turn this vision into a reality.

After only two weeks of race training so far, my cautious interest has developed into a all-consuming obsession for the thrilling, high-stakes environment of ocean dwelling. Beyond the skillset I learned, the friendships already formed, and the weeks (WEEKS!) it took to get my hands to stop peeling and become soft again, the thing that most excited me about was the untamed feeling of freedom and unchecked curiosity when surrounded by nothing but sea and stars.

At the heart of this aspiration is a desire to grow – both personally and professionally – by challenging myself in unfamiliar territory.

Though I’ve spent some time on boats throughout my life, my largest concern was the vast amount of unknown information in regard to how I, personally, would respond to offshore life. Do I even like sailing? What if I don’t get along with my crewmates? What if I get seasick? Turns out, I do! but the overwhelmingly positive experience I walked away with after two weeks left me smiling for days on end, unable to quit yapping about time aboard.

To prepare for my race, I’ve interviewed 9 renowned sailing media journalists, gathering insight and advice from talented experts to help guide my course. I’ve immersed myself in sailing by learning the ropes (or as sailors call them- lines) through intense, hands-on training in an offshore setting. I’ve confused Planet Fitness employees, when I showed up for the first time ever after 5 months of already paying for a gym membership. Now I’ve – grudgingly – been spending more time exercising than ever, developing muscles I wasn’t even aware existed.

Beyond gaining practical knowledge and fitness, my aim is to refine my storytelling and photography skills by practicing, learning from experts, and absorbing as much content as I can from those who inspire me. And that’s where you come in, Dear Reader, as I strive to grow my portfolio and share my journalistic aspirations with the world.

My goal is not just to document my race, but to take a leap and set off on a lifechanging adventure that so few would dare to experience.

Every great dream begins with a single step, and I am ready to chart a course toward mine with passion, hard work, and of course, a wild sense of adventure. I hope you’ll follow along as I work to turn this passion into a full-fledged career.

xx – Abigail Reagan