Sailing has been one of my passions since I was a child, and like many who harbour dreams, one of mine was to take on a real challenge under sail. When I first met my late wife in 2007, half way up the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, it soon became apparent that “challenges” was one of the many passions we shared. Beca regularly engaged in physical activity, from cycling to running and sought regular opportunities to raise money for charities. She also enjoyed sailing, and still holds the top speed ever set on my yacht.
Now, I am realising my dream - in difficult personal circumstances, but I know Beca would be supportive. Like her, I want to maximise the potential of racing under sail, this time around the world and add to the £20,000 that has been raised, in her memory, for the Noah’s Ark appeal. Their aim is to build two wards with two floors dedicated to young people with cancer and needs further support to complete further projects including a teenage cancer unit.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was conceived by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to give individuals from all walks of life and a wide variety of backgrounds, the opportunity to experience the challenge of ocean racing, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. What an experience!!!! We will be members of a unique group, smaller in number than those who have climbed Everest! This year there will be 10 identical stripped down 68ft racing yachts taking part in the race, each sponsored by a city, region or country and I will be a team member of the “Edinburgh Inspiring Capital”.
Setting off from the Solent on July 31, we will sail and race over 40,000 miles, calling at Madeira, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Geraldton – Australia, New Zealand, Gold Coast – Australia, Singapore, Qingdao – China, California, Panama, New York, Nova Scotia – Canada, Derry – Ireland and The Netherlands.
If all goes well, I’ll be back in the Solent on 22 July 2012. The Noah’s Ark Appeal will benefit financially, and my passion will have been fulfilled – for now!
Beca was born in Cardiff and had visited many of the ports that we will be calling at, from Rio to Singapore, New York to Cape Town and the Netherlands where she studied Public European Law at the University of Utrecht.
My ambition now is to complete the challenge and in so doing, swell her tribute fund to enable the Noah’s Ark Appeal to continue its challenging work in support of the National Children’s Hospital of Wales
