My Story

After being born and diagnosed with deafness in my right ear, I never really gave the disability much thought apart from the obvious annoyances of having to walk on the right, sit on the right, do everything with anyone – on the right. It was only when I was unable to complete a solo flight scholarship due to my deafness with Air Cadets, that I realised I would not be allowed to join the RAF as a pilot. I then understood the limitations that the disability brought to my life. Following this, I took the mentality that I may be limited, but I can do mostly anything. Mostly anything turned into chasing another career path to become a Test Driver. After working in this field for a number of years, I’ve decided to take a career break to take on something truly special – A Round the World Yacht Race.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a 40,000 mile circumnavigation of the globe - The longest yacht race in the world. 12 identical 70ft racing yachts, with a crew of 22 on board will race 8 legs with 15 stopovers over 6 continents. We will experience bone numbing freezing conditions in the southern ocean. Hot sweaty, energy sapping temperatures in the tropics. Waves the size of houses in the Pacific, and frustrating zones of zero wind in the doldrums. It's a race to test the physical and mental side of a person working with strangers, when sleep deprived, in a pressure cooker that is a racing yacht. This is no holiday - More people have climbed Everest, than sailed around the world.....

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Seeing the new boat

Makes me just want to get on that water and race @clipperrace #competitive

Sunday 17 February 2013

Saturday 16 February 2013

Stressed at work?

Just thinking of the @clipperrace makes it all go away! Roll on August!

Friday 15 February 2013

2 more statements of fact

I have never heard a voice or music or a whisper from a pretty girl in my right ear, and sometime I get a squeal in my left @deafnessuk

2 statements of fact

I'm a test driver and I'm going round the world with the #clippperrace. How cool is that!!

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Level 2 on the 70

The itinerary for my level 2 talks about the #clipper70...hopefully not a typo!!

Doing some work on Defender

Cars have moved on somewhat!! Wonder how the parallels are to boats?

Monday 11 February 2013

Paper again!

I'm in the Lytham St Anne's Express on Thursday!

Saving some money!

This months included some big spending, but the last of the big items. If I can save a bit of money this and next test trip, the bank balance should stay ok.....I hope!

Friday 8 February 2013

I'm on it

Seat paid for, insurance paid for, sleeping bag purchased. All aboard #clipperrace

Thursday 7 February 2013

I signed up for

The @clipperrace in August 2011, the start is now so close, but so far!

Been learning the weather

But just found a classic where they have got it completely wrong. The synoptic says a low force 2, and it's like force 7 outside!!

Need more time!

To focus on the race rather than this work thing!

Sunday 3 February 2013

31,000!

Can't believe Steve Parrish re-tweeted about my campaign. He has 31,000 followers! Hope some of them donate! @clipperrace @deafnessuk @stavros6

Saturday 2 February 2013

Stats

Approx 1000 people attempt Everest each year, 600 people have gone to Space, 196 people have sailed solo non-stop around the world....ever.

Friday 1 February 2013

Wow

What a result. Presented to 6th Formers and year 7-9. A few looks of wow. Hopefully I've inspired at least one kid to go chase his dreams. 1 teacher wants in on the clipper race as well! Over to you Dave!