DARING Lois Bickerton braved testing weather conditions to win an award on the warm-up race for her round-the-world voyage.

The former Thomas Hardye student proved her mettle as watch leader on the Pilgrim Race from Gosport to Grimsby when she and her fellow crew tackled winds gusting 54 knots.

It was a great start for Lois, who has quit her job as a physiotherapist to embark on the unique Clipper round-the-world yacht race, which enables people from all walks of life to experience ocean sailing.

Lois was delighted to be named ‘best performing individual crew member’ and said she ‘loved every minute’ of the ‘scary’ conditions.

After a week of preparation onboard their boat Qingdao, Lois and crew set off on the first stage of the adventure to the north-east coast of England.

The fleet of 10 identical stripped-down 68-foot yachts were given a big send-off from their home of Gosport.

After speeches by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and the Mayor of Gosport the boats paraded out of Portsmouth Harbour in arrow formation.

Lois, 28, said: “It was just amazing, the weather was fantastic and we had a flotilla of boats following behind us.

“Once out east of the Solent we began to plan our route up to the Humber and split off into watch systems.

“We were a small crew for this trip so we knew we were going to have to work hard but none of us realised quite what the British weather had in store for us.”

As Lois and crew passed Dover, the wind began to build and they prepared themselves for predicted gale force 8 to 9.

She said: “Soon we were experiencing the North Sea in its most challenging conditions.

“I felt scared most of the time but deep down there was a huge part of me loving every minute.

“We didn’t win the Pilgrim Race but we battled severe weather conditions.

“I won the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce Award for ‘best performing individual crew member Gosport to Grimsby Race 09-10.’ “My skipper voted for me because I was a watch leader through the race and put a reef in the main sail while the wind was gusting 54 knots.

“I was so proud.”

FOLLOW LOIS'S PROGRESS

On Sunday, September 13, Lois will set sail from the Humber on legs one, two and three of the 35,000-mile race to Brazil, South Africa and Australia, where she will spend Christmas and New Year.

Lois is still trying to raise enough money to secure a place on leg four of the 10-month circumnavigation of the globe to China. It is her dream to sail into Qingdao on the home boat.

Whatever happens, Lois will join the Clipper crew’s triumphant and emotional return to the Humber in July 2010.

Follow her progress at www.afloatweymouth.co.uk/blogs/loisbickerton