It's been an ambition since I started sailing 10 years ago. I was a reserve for the LG Flatron crew and someone pulled out so I got called up. I had to raise £25,000 to join the crew, but I was selling my house at the time and used some of the proceeds.
What were you doing before you left?
I was working for Clugston Construction, managing its Birmingham office.
How did you feel when you set off?
Excited at the thought of spending 10 months sailing round the world, not knowing what was ahead but looking forward to it.
How was it?
I've seen some amazing sights, not just on the ocean but the places we stopped over at. It was brilliant being part of the team too - we won because there were no egos.
What have you learnt from it?
You can achieve a lot if you're determined, and that you should take your opportunities in life. Also that you can succeed a lot if you work as a team.
Best and worst moments?
My favourite experience was the Southern Ocean. The power in the waves will stay with me forever. It's so huge and hostile, you feel a very small part of it, but I'd go back if I had the chance. I didn't really have a worst moment - there's nothing I regret about the experience.
What did you miss most at sea?
Fresh fruit, salads and fizzy drinks. The food at sea is freeze-dried, so the first thing you want when you get to port is a nice crisp salad!
What do you miss most about the sea?
The crew. You get used to living with 18 people for 10 months and even though I still see them, it's not the same as being in that situation together.
How did winning feel?
Fantastic. It was absolutely incredible when we sailed into Southampton to see all the people cheering for us.
Taking yourself seriously is fatal on a building site
How did you feel sailing back into Britain?
Happy to see all my friends and family again, but sad that the race was over for good.
How did you readjust to normal life?
It wasn't that difficult. I had 12 months off work altogether, went back to a job I enjoyed and I still sail.
Would you do the race again?
No, because of what we achieved - anything else would be an anticlimax. But I'd love to sail round the world again.
Did you learn anything that you could use in your working life?
I knew the value of working in a team before I went but the race really reinforced that. We had to rely on each other so much because if we got it wrong it could be life-threatening.
What's the most rewarding thing about your job?
Seeing a project turn out successfully. Being a surveyor, I want to see the job make a profit, but for that to happen, everything else has to come together.
What's the worst thing about your job?
The conditions on site and the travelling. The worst thing about the construction industry in general is that so many people have to work so far from home.
What's your tip for aspiring surveyors?
Try to be part of the team on site and get involved in the running of the site. Don't just shut yourself away in your office.
Source
Construction Manager
Postscript
Anne Pugh is a 41-year-old surveyor for Solihull-based contractor Benson. She is currently working on a £3.7m six-storey apartment block for Crosby Homes in Birmingham's jewellery quarter. The 13-month project finishes this August
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