Local lady Marie O'Riley has shared experiences from her 'life-changing' voyage as part of the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The 57-year-old from Leamington Spa recently returned to the UK having sailed part of the journey on 'Dare to Lead' - one of 11 boats that successfully circumnavigated the globe - having first been inspired to sign up after seeing the boats in Liverpool in 2017.

The race was established by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in 1996, with the 12th edition starting in London on 1 September 2019.

Marie, who had never sailed before, had to raise around £15,000 to fund the expedition.

The Clipper Race sees teams of amateurs joined up with a professional skipper and first mate.

A quarter of the 20-strong crew sail the full 40,000 miles around the world while the rest join for one or two legs.

Marie joined Dare to Lead for the Atlantic homecoming leg.

Marie had to train hard for two years in all aspects of sailing a 70-foot racing yacht – including the catering, helm, rigging, navigation, and had to conquer her fears to climb the mast.

All participants must be able to undertake any of the tasks on board, with crew split into two watches, racing around the clock, day and night.

With the race already in progress, the fleet was in the Philippines in March 2020 when Covid struck and everything stopped for two years.

Eventually Marie was able to travel down to Bermuda in June this year to join the boat and had to remember everything she had learned before setting off for New York.

Talking to Rotary Club of Warwick members last week Marie told her crew who ranged from 73 years old to 22 and shared her memories of the hair-raising seas as they approached Ireland.

Torn sails had to be patched on the go, until reaching Derry in Northern Ireland where a sports centre had the space to repair their huge spinnaker.

The boats arrived into London on the 30 July this year and Marie had covered 4,870 nautical miles, experiencing 50-knot winds which took the boat up to a speed of 28 knots.

The yachts were each raising money for UNICEF's 'For every child in danger' fund.

By the end of the race Dare to Lead had the second highest total of £39,000 and Marie's personal contribution is now £4,040.

Thanking Marie for her presentation, Rotarian Alan Bailey said his audience was in aweat her achievement and presented Marie with another cheque for Unicef.

Asked what she had learned – Marie said: "I can do anything now!"