Sailing update | CV26 Washington, DC

Charlie Cullen has decided to step down from his role as First Mate and will be leaving the Clipper 2025-26 Race in Punta del Este.  

The new First Mate of Washington, DC will be Lauren Corn, from Dorset, UK who will be joining the Clipper Race for the remainder of the circumnavigation. Lauren will arrive in Punta del Este in time for Leg 2 Refresher Training on Saturday 18 October.  

Lauren comes from a family who are most at home on the water, spending her early years dinghy sailing in local waters. After taking a break from university, she qualified as a Yachtmaster in Australia where she also got a taste for racing and spent time as an instructor. This summer she led training Levels 1, 2 and 3 at Clipper Race Training HQ as a First Mate.  

Speaking about taking on the role, Lauren said: “I want to be a Clipper Race First Mate because of the uniqueness the role offers. You meet this group of people who are so specialist in their individual day jobs, but we have the opportunity to guide and lead everyone into a team of sailors. There’s nothing else like that in the industry.” 

Says Race Director, Dale Smyth: “We thank Charlie for all he has done since joining us earlier in the year and hope to work with him in the near future at our Clipper Race Training HQ. We welcome Lauren to Team Washington, DC and the wider Clipper Race team.”