Katie Miller Yacht Racing

About Katie

Katie’s first experience of sailing was on a family holiday to Greece, where she and her sister were taught how to sail dinghies while their parents learnt how to sail a yacht. That was back in 2000 and Katie was “bitten by the bug”……it’s all gone from there….

On returning to the UK, Katie joined the Tamworth and Lichfield Sea Cadets where she continued to sail and pursue other water sports. At 15 Katie bought a Solo dinghy and sailed it at Chase Water sailing club, where she also crewed in the competitive GP14 circuit.

In 2004 Katie gained her Day Skipper qualification, and it was during her first experiences as “skipper” that she decided to sail solo around the UK. 2004 was also the year that Katie became involved with the Ellen MacArthur Trust, and was a member of the team that was responsible for taking children recovering from cancer and leukaemia on inspirational sailing trips in the Solent. Her involvement here only inspired her further, and “The Challenge 2006” was born.

Dee Caffari (left) presents Katie with the
Young Sailor of the Year Award
at the 2007 London Boat Show

Photo Credit © Mark Lamble

After completing her A-Levels, Katie worked six days a week to help fund her round Britain campaign, before she and her Corribee “Elektra” finally left Universal Marina on the 21st April 2006. Her three month adventure ended on the 19th July 2006, having raised £10,000 for the Ellen MacArthur Trust and increased her passion for sailing. 2006 also saw Katie pass her Yachtmaster exam.

As a result of this adventure Katie was nominated for the Raymarine YJA Young Sailor of the Year Award 2006. Much to her surprise she beat off stiff competition from a large field of talented young sailors and was awarded the prestigious prize at the London Boat show in January 2007.

Katie is now studying Yacht Production and Surveying at Southampton Solent University. She is a member of Lee-on-the-Solent sailing club and is continuing her sailing ambitions while at university, including a 6th place in the Royal Southampton YC's Double-Handed series and a 4th place in the Garmin Hamble Winter Series. Her new two year plan reaches its climax in 2009, with the OSTAR single-handed trans-Atlantic race.