CLIPPER sailor Lois Bickerton has been battling ‘big swells and big winds’ in the Southern Ocean as she heads north to Australia aboard Qingdao.

Disaster struck the former Thomas Hardye pupil’s crew in the past week when their heavyweight spinnaker tore in half after a ‘massive wind shift’ wrapped it around the forestay.

Lois has been helping to repair the kite – a job that involves being seat-belted to the wall with the sewing machine strapped down in front and mountains of sail material either side – while the boat leans at a 45-degree angle and lurches every five minutes.

Lois, 28, said: “As a complete novice sail repairer it’s quite a challenge – so far the job looks good but it is painful work.

“My skipper described it as working with something the size of a tennis court inside a garden shed that is being thrown around in different directions.

“It’s a valuable experience though and its the hardest things that you will remember the most.

“We have been lingering around 40 degrees south now for about 10 days.

“Below 40 degrees is the roaring Forties otherwise known as the Southern Ocean.

“We have experienced some strong winds and rapid wind shifts that mean we have to be keeping a constant watch of all our wind instruments, and be ready to change our sail plan quickly.

“The light down here in this part of the world is extraordinary when you get a blue-sky day.

“I had a lovely day on the helm the other day and caught a glimpse of three orca jumping out of the water in front of us. This has been the only wildlife we have seen this leg apart from birds.”

Lois’s 68-foot Clipper yacht had a brief interlude with the other Clipper boat Edinburgh Inspiring Capital this week and also crossed paths with a small cruise boat heading north, perhaps coming from Antarctica.

As the yachts close in on the west coast of Australia, Lois said: “The race will be close and we are pushing ourselves and the boat hard to get to the front of the pack.

“I will be sad to leave the boat in Australia but it’s been a massive journey full of ups and downs but overall a unique experience and challenge.”