Diana Vega, First Mate in The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Diana Vega was the first mate aboard Team UNICEF in the 2025-2026 Clipper Round The Wolrd Yacht Race, a circumnavigation on one-design 70' ocean racing yachts with professional skippers and amateur crew. Diana grew up sailing in Cowes, started sailing professionally during the pandemic, and went on to crew in the Solent and Caribbean. She co-skippered the Clipper Race with skipper Guy Waites. The race started in Portsmouth, UK, then stopped in Spain, Uruguay, South Africa, West Australia, East Australia, The Phillipines, China, South Korea, Seattle, Panama, Washington DC, Scotland, and back to Portsmouth.  We talk about completing the race and what it was like to finish, the accomplishment of circumnavigating and taking 50 amateur crew safely around the world, an injury and medical evacuation during heavy weather off Japan, a rogue wave, tethers, their sail wardrobe, safety, when to clip in with a tether, things she learned from her skipper Guy Waites, the crew, the stars, how sailing humbles us, the mysterious green flash, UFO's, hand-steering, not helming to the instruments, the North Pacific, books, heavy weather, the Bay of Biscay, future sailing plans, cruising vs racing, navigating the high-traffic of the South China Sea, dealing with fleets of fishing boats, transfering to another boat, managing a crew, and more. Support the show through Patreon Links and Photos are at https://www.paultrammell.com/offshoresailingandcruising Shop tankless dive systems at diveblu3.com Shop dinghy lights at https://showmeyourdinghy.com/ Sail with Sailing Resolution Shop or list sailboats at SailboatsforSale.com