Story byThe Daily Astorian, Ore.

In One Ear: Onward to Oban

Elleda Wilson, The Daily Astorian, Ore.Thu, Jul 2, 2026·1 min read

After a 40-hour stop in Panama, Astorian Heidi Brown, who is sailing in the year-long Clipper Round the World Race, headed for Washington, D.C. She is a member of Team Scotland, one of 10 race competitors.

“This race stage was unique for so many reasons,” she wrote in her blog, Windward Leader. “It will live on in infamy for its never-ending squalls. At one point, my watch endured 10-plus squalls in a six-hour period.

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“… Early in the race, we experienced incredible, intense lightning storms all around us. Some lightning strikes were close to us.” The wind instruments went out, so they had to use the windex (a wind direction indicator on the mast) and the compass to navigate. Adding to their difficulties, there were several spinnaker sail issues, one of which entailed climbing the mast.

“A ton” of seaweed was around, but not much wildlife until they almost hit two pygmy sperm whales, who were probably sleeping on the surface. “Both parties startled, but no one was hurt (whales or humans).”

“Motoring on the Potomac River kind of reminded me of the Columbia River back home,” she emailed to Astorian John Windus on June 24. “… Chesapeake Bay is teeming with fish, dolphins, sometimes whales and possibly some kind of ray. We also passed a very large windmill farm on the water — that was a first for me.”

“… The rest (in Washinton, D.C.) is much needed after 47 days at sea.” Next stop: Oban, Scotland, and Team Scotland is doing well. Track the race at tinyurl.com/2025ClipperTracker. (Photo: Heidi Brown)