'An entertaining and compelling page turner that will stay with you.' Pete Goss The boat picks up another wave and surfs again, faster this time, deafening. My eyes are streaming, sore from the icy wind that throws spray in my face. And over the top of it all I can hear my own laughter. I feel powerful, strong. I am a thousand miles from land in one of the world's most dangerous environments. Alone and free. The Vendée Globe Race is one of the world's toughest sporting events: a single-handed, non-stop lap of the planet, with no assistance. The route takes competitors around the fringes of Antarctica, tackling terrifying conditions in the Southern Ocean before rounding Cape Horn*. In My Element* is the gripping and uncompromising story of Pip's incredible journey, but it's about so much more than sailing. A thousand miles from land and surviving on only 30 minutes of sleep at a time, with both skipper and vessel relentlessly pushed to the brink of failure, Pip tells it straight, acknowledging that success never comes without mistakes and mishaps and these challenges do not mean defeat; they are opportunities to learn and grow. This, her first book, is both a gripping record of one of her toughest races ever and an inspiring account of the mental and physical strategies that have allowed her to discover, as a middle-aged woman, a life that allows her to live 'in flow' and achieve success. From embracing fear to managing anxiety, enduring the daily grind whilst appreciating the pure magic, pacing yourself and rising to the occasion, Pip's journey teaches the importance of seizing every moment and truly living in your element. She is rarely dry, often freezing, scared and lonely, sometimes tackling waves the height of a three-storey building in her 60-foot yacht. But for Pip, the hard work isn't confined to wrangling her boat on a grey ocean, grappling with a 120kg sail on a deck deluged by towering waves. It is having to punch through the glass ceiling in a sport dominated by men, a sport with no performance pathway to guide new competitors up the ranks, a world where you have to fundraise, build your own programmes and sponsor-hunt day after day until you're ready to drop. And it's also about practising her sailing routines on dry land, where more often than not she has to fight against feeling like a middle aged woman being told what to do. This is a story about the highs and the lows involved in setting yourself a difficult challenge, where you have to learn new and difficult skills, stretch yourself to grow, and push yourself hard to get what you want, even when doors slam in your face. But above all, it's about being in your element – finding that occupation or endeavour that makes your heart sing, and the power of authenticity in a world where you are told you don't belong. Pip's account of this around the world solo race - which only ten women on the planet have ever achieved – includes enduring life lessons/strategies that can be applied to any challenging situation. It will appeal to those looking for inspiration in whatever sphere they find a pull towards and to fans of endurance and sailing stories. Already a household name for sailing enthusiasts, the 2024 Vendee Globe race in November 24 will bring Pip Hare's name to an even wider market and her team have ambitious media plans for raising her profile further.