Get to Know Sailors for the Sea Ambassador Hannah Stodel - Sailors for the Sea

Get to Know Sailors for the Sea Ambassador Hannah Stodel

 March 27, 2026  | By: Steff Ruf

Hannah Stodel is a three-time World Champion and four-time Paralympian training to become the first disabled female sailor to take on the Vendée Globe. She’s also our first Sailors for the Sea Ambassador based in the United Kingdom!

Get to know Hannah—what inspires her, why she believes we need to protect the ocean, and what she enjoys doing when she’s not setting sail.

What first inspired you to get into sailing, and how did that passion grow into a career?

My parents really introduced me to sailing, but especially my Mum – the original “mumager” who somehow made all the logistics work so I could be on the water as much as possible. From there the passion just grew. I spent many years focused on racing and campaigning, and later working with Fieri Leadership where I absolutely loved the work we were doing around leadership development. The opportunity to join World Sailing then came along, and for me it made sense. I’ve always believed strongly in serving others and helping create opportunities for people in sport, so moving into this role felt like the right way to contribute to something bigger.

As a Sailors for the Sea ambassador, why is protecting the ocean important to you?

Quite simply, it’s our playground and our workplace, but it’s also absolutely critical for the health of the planet. Everything is interconnected, and small changes really can make a big difference when enough people make them. The ocean regulates climate, supports biodiversity and livelihoods, and affects all of us whether we realize it or not. Just looking at the increasingly extreme weather patterns around the world reminds us how important it is to take care of the systems that sustain life on Earth.

When you’re not training or sailing, what are some things you enjoy doing on land?

A lot of dog walking! I have two very enthusiastic dogs who make sure I get outside whether I feel like it or not. I also spend more time than I’d like to admit cleaning, and recently I’ve become quite obsessed with doing jigsaw puzzles—which probably confirms I’m getting old and sad! But honestly, getting out with the dogs and switching off a bit is one of the best resets there is.

Follow Hannah’s journey on Instagram @hannahstodelracing.