Businessman to skipper team of novices in round-the-world race
A Derry businessman is to skipper a crew of virtual novices in his first attempt at one of the most gruelling challenges at sea, it was revealed today.
Richie Fearon has been named captain of the Cork boat in the 35,000-mile Clipper round-the-world yacht race – the second youngest sailor to lead a crew this year.
The 28-year-old is swapping the relatively calm waters of the north-west’s Lough Swilly, where he learnt to sail, for the North Atlantic, Southern Ocean and the toughest leg, the South China Sea.
“That’s not going to be pleasant gin and tonic sailing, but the Southern Ocean could be great fun with the high winds behind us and big seas right near the roaring 40s,” Fearon said.
The property developer is attempting his first round the world trip but has already two Atlantic crossings under his belt – including victory in a race from the Canaries to the Caribbean three years ago.
The competition begins in September at the River Humber on the east coast of England with crews sailing 35,000 miles stopping at 14 ports, including Cork, before arriving back in the Humber in July 2010.
“It goes without saying that arriving in Cork at the end of that last Atlantic crossing will be the highlight of the race,” Fearon said.
“I think one of the biggest challenges will be bringing up guys who are relative novices.”
Fearon, Rear Commodore with Lough Swilly Yacht Club, has sailed in the north-west since he was a child. He finds out his crew of virtual amateurs on May 30.
“A successful race would certainly be crossing the finishing line in first place at the end, but a successful race for me would also be to get Cork around the world safely with everyone enjoying it and hopefully we can get some podium finishes on the way around,” he said.
The first Clipper race was run in 1996, the brainchild of legendary yachtsman, Robin Knox-Johnston who became the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 1969.
The aim was to open up ocean racing to everyone and in the last 13 years almost 2,000 ordinary people have taken to the seas.
Knox-Johnston said: “Leading a team in a race around the world is one of the hardest and most challenging jobs that any skipper could ever undertake and we’re confident Richie and his nine colleagues are up to this challenge.
“They have the ability to draw the line between competitiveness and safety while, at the same time, motivating the crew to retain their focus during races lasting several weeks at a time, whether it be through roaring gales and towering seas or the frustration of tricky calm spells.”
