One Race.
One Cure.

Skipper

Karl Smith is an experienced offshore sailor, having progressed from deliveries and instructing through to Superyacht Captain. His entry into the Global Solo Challenge is driven by more than competition, it is a deeply personal commitment to raising awareness and funding for Parkinson's disease, a condition his father Peter suffers from.

David Rowen

Campaign Manager

Through his company Aerowen, David brings decades of business and yachting experience to the campaign. With over 75,000 sea miles and numerous shorthanded offshore racing campaigns to his name, he combines deep technical knowledge of boat building with a career managing large-scale wind turbine manufacturing projects across the globe. Safety first and meticulous preparation are the cornerstones of his approach.

Josie Gliddon

Finance Manager

Josie brings a rare combination of elite racing pedigree and corporate financial expertise to the team. A lifelong competitive sailor, her credentials include campaigns with the British Olympic Sailing Squad, winning the International Moth World Championships, and navigating two Rolex Fastnet Races. Professionally, Josie is a seasoned Finance Leader with over a decade of executive board experience, having led global finance and IT operations. She applies a zero-compromise, competitive mindset to the team's budgeting, risk management, and governance.

Claire Usmar

Social Media Manager

Bringing incredible stories to life via digital media channels is Claire's raison d'être. A communications specialist equally at home behind a camera or a keyboard, her experience spans not-for-profit, tertiary education institutions and the public sector, promoting cycling, medical research, international trade and investment attraction.