This year the JS Group is supporting one of the youngest participants in the historic 27000-mile Ocean Globe Race – a voyage taking place from September 2023 and expected to last for nearly eight months. The Race marks the 50th anniversary of the very first global Whitbread round the world yacht race and, thanks to JS Group sponsorship, 23-year-old India Syms is joining this adventure of a life time alongside the 14 competing teams. She is part of the Spirit of Adelaide crew sailing on board the yacht Outlaw in a ‘retro style’ (no GPS or modern electronics) race that reflects the past history of this challenge. We asked India to share her own story as she embarks on this life-enhancing journey.
If you asked me five years ago where I thought I’d be and what I thought I’d be doing in five years’ time, I can assure you that not a single one of my predictions would have placed me where I am now.
From an early I age I took up sailing, kayaking and enjoying the thrill of as many other water sports as possible. During my teenage years I completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition with the Tall Ships Youth Trust and fell head over heels for the sport. This prompted me to think about how I could factor more of it into my life.
I went on to become a qualified Dinghy Instructor and got to work teaching others to sail whilst travelling for a year. I also returned to the Tall Ships charity to volunteer as a Watch Leader on trips with school and community groups and embarked on my first Transatlantic crossing with the Trust.
The more time I spent on the water, the more I fell in love with it so I began to think about how I could turn this lifestyle into something more sustainable and started researching different career opportunities in the Maritime Industry. I joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a Cadet and after three years I gained many qualifications that now allow me to drive any ship of any size, anywhere in the world.
Mid way through my training I was invited to compete in a sailing regatta in Cowes on the Isle of Wight where I bumped into someone who I’d sailed for with the Tall Ships Youth Trust earlier that year. He told me of an exciting new adventure that he was embarking on – the Ocean Globe Race 2023 – and asked if I would consider applying to join the ‘Spirit of Adelaide’ team he was on.
When I first told my friends and family of my next crazy endeavour, I’m not sure they were too surprised. I’ve always talked about disappearing off on this adventure and that, but this one is different. I’ll be away for seven months, most of the time without means of communication or access to the internet, have no modern electronics (my phone!) and have absolutely no personal space. There’s even talk about ‘hot bunking’ – two crew members alternating around one bunk!
This challenge isn’t just about the sailing, really it’s about pushing every boundary, taking yourself out of every comfort zone, working together to problem solve in critical situations, learning to overcome fears that you never knew you had and achieving a shared objective as a team.
Of course, getting to the stage of being able to take part wasn’t all smooth sailing, excuse the pun. I think everyone at some point questions whether or not they are on the right path and maybe even momentarily thinks about dropping out of whatever it is they’re studying. I certainly had my fair share of that!
Throughout my training I had to constantly remind myself of the bigger picture and what all the effort was for, and I am so glad that I did. Had I not, I know I would not have made it on the team for the Ocean Globe Race and know I would not be in as good a position to engage in any other incredible opportunities that may arise in the future.
I am so incredible grateful for the support and encouragement from the JS Group, their involvement in my campaign has been invaluable in many ways and I’m thrilled to have them by my side for this extraordinary adventure.
If you’d like to follow us during the race, check us out on the YellowBrick app with vessel name ‘Outlaw’. To follow along on social media: Tiktok via @indiarose.ocean; Instagram via @indiarose.ocean and via @spirit.of.adelaide
