Ben Pate - Racing Round The World : May 2013

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.....

Thursday 30 May 2013

#racestart released tomorrow!

Exciting times ahead #clipperrace

Wednesday 29 May 2013

1hr cardio done

45 min run + 15 min cross trainer. Get fit, get fast.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Work hard for a life your proud of...

I'm a test driver, and now competing in a round the world yacht race. Set a goal and go for it!

End of an era!

Last test trip to Spain starts today. End of a chapter, then onto #clipperrace

Monday 27 May 2013

10 Million People

Are affected by hearing loss in the UK, let's help them. #actiononhearing

Thursday 23 May 2013

100 days to go!

#clipperrace #teamtalbot

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Resting heart rate 58bpm

8 to go #fitcrewisfast #teamtalbot

£1200!!

3% of target! Lots to go!

Big thank you to Jackson Grundy

For the donation to #actiononhearing

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Businesses of Freckleton...

Please hear my call for donations to #actiononhearing I'm sailing around the world for charity in the #clipperrace

Big thanks to Dawn Hare!

For the donation to the charity!

Monday 20 May 2013

Just off for lunch with Royalty

All because I signed up for the #clipperrace and raising money for #actiononhearing - crazy days!

Sunday 19 May 2013

1hr Run Done

Not a massive distance, but felt good. #traintorace

Fitness Plan for the Week

1hr run, 40min row, water rowing session, 2 x 6k row, water rowing session, 2 x 6k row, 2hr bike, 2 hr bike.

Saturday 18 May 2013

Still trying to find a lounge suit!

For the royal appointment on Monday!

108 days...

Then a whole year of adventures. Can't wait #clipperrace

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Apparently I'm an ENFJ Person

Apparently that's good, but I need to find my place in the world. Good job I'm going round it then!

Monday 13 May 2013

Notice handed in

You can stick your job....for a year!

Sunday 12 May 2013

So happy with crew and skipper

Go team Simon! #clipperrace #gameon

Friday 10 May 2013

Today is the day

#clipperrace #crewallocation

Royalty!

Just been invited to speak in front of royalty about my #clipperrace experience! #actiononhearing #deafnessuk #mindblown

Crew Allocation Tomorrow!!

Get to find out who I'll spend a year with come September #clipperrace #gameon

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Replacement team leader appointed

Leaving one team, but joining another on Saturday #clipperrace crew allocation

Ok no more added sugar

Training stepping up, sugar out, fish oils in.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Deafness Research UK

Has now merged with Action on Hearing Loss. Still donate to same justgiving site. We just need to do some re-branding.

Mission complete

Got a visa to sail America. London - thanks. Time for sleeps

Monday 6 May 2013

US Embassy tomorrow

Hope it goes well. Bit of a painful process, so don't want to repeat really!

Sunday 5 May 2013

.

Sat outside in London, it's ace. Will miss my mates

Resting Heart Rate = 60

Not good enough, need to train, but mates birthdays are calling!

Friday 3 May 2013

Home!

Nurburgring, Corvara, Eindhoven, Bruge - done. Only back for 1.5 days before London, Warwick, Portsmouth, Warwick, Bournemouth, Warwick, home. Can't complain!

Back in Blighty

Time to get the #clipperrace #actiononhearing #deafnessuk campaign back on the road

Deafness Research UK / Action on Hearing

This challenge for me, is one to truly test my ability to work around my deafness in an environment where hearing or not hearing your crew mates can be the difference between winning or losing, or what is a real possibility, the difference between a serious injury or not.

I've set up an affiliation with Deafness Research UK who has now been merged with Action on Hearing Loss, as I believe these charities best support the research of hearing loss and the development of cures for the future.

I've suffered in my life with my disability; therefore I would like to do anything I can to help others in the same situation and help benefit their lives.

The overall message I'm trying to send out, is no matter what you restriction in life, you can do anything you want. You just need to go and do it. Please help my race campaign and donate to this great charity.

http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk/

http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/