She is qualified as an analytical chemist and has worked for the States in the Laboratory of the Official Analyst for 12 years before leaving to sail on leg 2 of the race and to go travelling for a few months.

Helen does not have much sailing experience, but spent a week with the Ocean Youth Club as part of her Duke of Edinburgh's Award many years ago, and a few odd trips since then. She now serves on the comittee of the Jersey branch of the Jubilee Sailing Trust.

Helen's other interests include swimming - she swam around Jersey in 2000, and in 2001 swam around Manhattan Island and across the English Channel. She gained her private pilot's licence in 2000 and hopes to be qualifeid as a PADI Instructor by the time she sets off for Cuba.