How did you get into sailing and what made you decide to sail solo around the world?

I started sailing when I was 7 years old in small dinghies and progressed up into larger boats quite quickly. My dad ran a boat building business so I was very fortunate to grow up seeing boats being built all around me and learning the ins and outs of them. When I was 14 I became the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean and once I had done that I wanted to do something bigger and better. I decided to sail around the world.

How did you prepare for this?

I spent almost two years solidly working up to this project. I spent a lot of time learning the ins and outs of all the systems on my yacht and I worked with a team of professionals during the final preparation of my open 50 yacht Totallymoney.com.

What is the highlight of your career to date?

The highlight of my sailing career would definitely be sailing deep in the Southern Ocean. No other place on the world comes close to the majestic beauty and sheer power of the south. Experiencing what it’s like to sail down 50 plus foot waves at breakneck speeds is something I will never ever forget.

What projects have you got coming up?

In August I’m looking forward to racing in Hamilton Island race week and I’ve certainly got a few other ideas up my sleeve.

How does your diet vary when you are training and when you are going sailing for a long period of time?

My diet does vary a lot when I’m training and when I’m sailing. When I am training I am always looking to build up muscle and so I tend to eat a lot of high protein food mixed with a lot of great fruit such as berries to compliment the high protein diet.

How important is a healthy lifestyle to your sport?

Leading a healthy lifestyle is important to my sport as the better shape a sailor is in then the better they will fare offshore when it is physically tough.

What are your recommendations for a healthy lifestyle?

To lead a healthy lifestyle I certainly recommend a nice balanced diet including lots of fruit. This mixed with a good portion of exercise is the best recipe for a healthy lifestyle.

What is your favourite berry?

I like all berries, but strawberries are my favourite berries by a long way.

What is your favourite way to eat berries?

I love eating berries on their own or mixed with other portions of fruit. They go very well with ice cream.