The challenge to shimmy up the mast turns many a strong guy into jelly, but the 22-year-old from Vokrust, South Africa, didn't need to be asked twice when Race leaders, Dongfeng Race Team, challenged her to do the climb in Sanya, China (port of call for the Race).
Miss Strauss, who won her title in London last December, was hoisted up the mast - the equivalent height of six giraffes - in a matter of minutes and took a leisurely view of the harbour before coolly lowering herself down. She described the view as 'like being on top of the world'.
She drew a big eye on the mast, looking down on the boat, and then wrote 'one world, one strength' on it.The fleet on a nine-month, 38,739 nautical mile offshore marathon race around the world, leave China on Sunday for Auckland in New Zealand for the fourth leg of nine.
The race is scheduled to finish in Gothenburg, Sweden on 27 June.
