Expecting the Unexpected

Nikki Henderson

Nikki is one of the most experienced and influential offshore and ocean skippers you will come across.

For over a decade, Nikki has coached, skippered and led amateur crews in the most extreme offshore and ocean races in the world. That includes leading her team to a victorious 2nd place in the Clipper Round the World Race, just two days after her 25th birthday. She then sailed halfway around the world again, this time skippering the infamous Maiden throught the pirate infested waters of East Africa on the first leg of her world tour. You might have seen her on Sailing La Vagabonde’s Youtube Channel, where she supported the couple on their unseasonal Atlantic Crossing to deliver young Greta Thunberg to the climate conference in Europe. Or maybe you followed her on one of her numerous other ocean adventures: 12 Atlantic crossings, a Sydney Hobart, three RORC Caribbean 600 races, 2 Rolex Fastnet races and even 2 entries into the Race-to-Alaska’ races, one of which she won.

Nikki is a passionate teacher, inspiring leader, motivating speaker and head turning author. She often hosts episodes of On the Wind with 59 North. You can enjoy her regular column in Yachting World in which she steers the hearts and minds of the sailing community. Stay tuned for her upcoming debut book.

Be sure to check out Nikki’s most recent project: SALTED: her new ‘learn to sail’ subscriber platform which she describes as: “An unpretentious, upbeat community inspired by sailing. A newsletter that will empower you, and educate you, to think differently about not just how to sail, but also how to live your life.”