Elaine has been sailing since the age of six. She began racing dinghies and later crewed on a variety of cruiser-racers and one-designs in club events and regattas throughout the UK.

Elaine qualified as an RYA sailing instructor in her teens and has taught sailing in the UK, Ireland and the USA. She has cruised throughout the UK, Ireland and the Mediterranean and has sailed across the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Pacific and Red Sea, and has sailed from South America to Antarctica.

Elaine was Editor of Yachting World from 2014-2020, having been Features Editor for many years before that. She continues to freelance for Yachting World.