On day one of the race, which raised funds for global charity Unicef, the yacht that Tzen was assigned to embarked from St Katharine Docks in London alongside 11 other racing yachts. Then, along the course through the Antarctic and Pacific Oceans, Tzen and her 20-strong crew went into full survival mode as the boat wrestled rough waters, unforgiving storms and biting gusts of wind. Some of the toughest nights rolled out in the North Pacific, where Tzen recalls a fatal accident involving a sailor on another yacht who fell overboard. “We had to deal with getting swept off our feet, being airborne and underwater at the same time on the bow as we tried to switch between large sails. We were trying to communicate with each other but kept getting interrupted as we were doused in salt water.” Even the simplest things—moving around the boat and using the washroom—proved to be a challenge.

As miserable as it was for her to “go to bed cold, wake up still cold and get into cold wet gear every day”, Tzen faced the situation like the trooper that she is. “It was a way of living. I told myself to just get on with it, make the most of what we had and race the boat as best as we could.” The greatest memories, however, were of the unexpected experiences and lessons she learnt along the way. “One of the best things about sailing is coming up on deck at every watch never knowing what to expect,” she enthuses. “I learned to live with less, with only what serves a function, without excess.

Tzen’s Travel Essentials

• ExOfficio eco-conscious undergarment
• Notebook (“So I can pen down my thoughts and to-do lists”)
• iPhone or a mobile device with a keyboard to write and draw
• Loqi reusable shopping bag
• Water bottle