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Local
Sailors in the Clipper, Round The World Race... Part one.
Photographs by
Patrick Trollope.
WE were going to
run this a few weeks back, but we decided to hold fire and then run
this feature as a two part story. Next week we interview a Formby
man who will be on the 05-06 Liverpool clipper, this week's
interviewee is from Ormskirk, who has strong links with Merseyside
and is a Sports Diver in the local Sub-Aqua club called OSAC.
42 year old Andy Tomlinson is embarking later this year on another
sport, this time above the waves. The self-employed Building
Contractor, who lives in Aughton, near Ormskirk, has always had a
thing about the sea. He took up diving a long time back, but now has
risen to meet a different challenge of the high seas,this time above
the waves and has mastered the sails of a clipper.
After being lucky enough to be selected to take part in two legs of
the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race, as part of the 18
strong crew on the Liverpool ‘08’ Clipper, he has been working
and studying hard for the race. We asked him what it is like to have
such an epic voyage awaiting him, as well as the hopes of the people
of Merseyside riding on the team's performance..... "Having
sailed on the new yacht in very difficult conditions, I feel more
excited than anxious about what the race and the Atlantic Ocean can
offer, and look forward to the challenges that it sets us. I've met
many of the crew that I will be sailing with and each one seems to
want the same things out the race as myself. I'm sure that there
will be very difficult times during the race, but we have been
trained to a very high standard so, hopefully, are ready for what
might be thrown at us. Considering that I had never sailed before in
my life, the learning curve has been very steep! This year seems to
have flown and now it is less than three months to the race start.
But I will do my best and so will the team to make the Liverpool
clipper victorious!"
We asked why he set himself such a hard task and he responded
which:- "It is an adventure that is once in a lifetime
experience and not many people get the opportunity to do anything
like this. I am also involved with Alder Hey Children's Hospital in
Liverpool, and they have agreed that all profits from the money
raised will go into their General Fund. I have collection boxes in
many of the places, shops, etc. that have been kind enough to
support me, and the generosity shown by local businesses has been
quite overwhelming. What better way of raising cash for charity and
also doing something that benefits Liverpool and also gives you the
such a buzz?"
Andy is married to Tracey, a Personnel Officer with Merseyside
Police, based at Huyton Police Station and has a 15 year old son
attending school in Crosby, but despite the voyage taking him away
from them, they are backing him all the way. Andy told us:- "I
am not looking forward to being away from them for so long, even
though I am not doing the full trip, it will still be hard to be
separated from them for so long. I have had great support from my
wife and from my son, who has just sat his GCSE's. Both are excited
for me and I get them involved whenever I can. My wife has been
extremely understanding, seeing that I surprised her with the fact
that I had booked another leg (leg 1), without telling her, though
it cost me in the end! I will leave Liverpool on 18 September, this
year (2005), and travel to Salvador, in Brazil, via a stop-off in
Portugal. My wife is flying out to meet me, and hopefully spend some
time with me, when we arrive in Portugal. It takes about six weeks
to get to Brazil, where, after spending a few days relaxing, I'll
fly back home from Rio.
In the middle of May next year, I fly out to Curacao, in the
Southern Caribbean, to rejoin the yacht and complete the race. The
yacht sails through the Caribbean, with stop offs in New York, and
New Jersey.
Again many friends and members of my family are flying out to New
York, and we should have some party when I arrive. We have many
relatives living in the USA and they are arranging to bring all
their friends with them as well.
After nine days in New York we head off back across the Atlantic, to
Jersey, and finally arriving in Liverpool on, hopefully, 1 July 1
2006."
At a press conference a few weeks back he said:- "I feel
that it is a great honour to be able to represent the city of
Liverpool in such a massive global event, and I, with the rest of
the 'Liverpool 08' crew will be trying our hardest to win the race.
Many friends and family will be following my progress in the race
online, as it will be permanently covered on the Clipper website and
reports will be added in the local media (Southport Reporter)."
If you want to sponsor, him please email us your details and we will
pass them on to him. "The more cash I can raise for Alder
Hey Children's Hospital the better... Please suport me.
Thanks!"
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Pictured above, Andy
Tomlinson with Chairman & co-founder of the Clipper Race, Sir
Robin Knox-Johnston
Click
here below for free Screen Savers
| All
the Clipper 05-06 teams out side St Georges Hall |
Shots
of 05-06 Liverpool Clipper, the all the 05-06 Liverpool
Clipper crew on board & more... |
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To see the full list of free
screen avers and for download information and examples of above,
click
here
5 Clipper did
you knows...
Fact 1:- When the Clipper is
doing 12 to 15 knots or more 80% of the pull comes from the
Spinnaker (The very small sail) and the rest from the main sail (the
big sail).
Fact 2:- All the Clippers are
identical, except for the markings and names...
Fact 3:- The Clippers are 68ft
and newly built for this race.
Fact 4:- The race will cover
35,000 miles, in all weathers.
Fact 5:- The only onboard
entertainment is a car radio/tape player!
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