DAN Bodey, a 33-year-old sailor from Rayleigh, is back home after leading a team of non-professional sailors on a 40,000 nautical mile race around the world.
Dan is the Skipper of the UNICEF team, one of eleven teams competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a global sailing event that trains people from all walks of life to become ocean racers. Dan has led his multinational crew of non-professional sailors on an eleven-month adventure which featured six ocean crossings and some of the toughest conditions Mother Nature can serve up. Dan and his crew proudly sailed into Portsmouth on Saturday 27 July for the Grand Finale celebrations, after securing a win on the final race of the adventure which resulted in fourth place overall for the team. On arrival into Portsmouth, Dan said: “We just finished the final race of our round the world trip, from Oban to Portsmouth. It was phenomenal for us as we came first in this race, which was spectacular as it was our first, first place in the circumnavigation. After thirteen attempts to win, our fourteenth try is the one we succeeded on. “What a way to finish. We’ve managed to tick off all the podium positions and to get a fourth overall just shows how dedicated the team have been. It’s been an incredible year.” “The team has just completed a circumnavigation of the globe. We’ve done over 40,000nm over the course of eleven months. It’s a phenomenal achievement for all of them, I couldn’t be prouder. The crew are an amazing bunch and it’s been a privilege to have sailed with them and led them on this adventure.” The Clipper Race is one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. This unique event sees teams battle extreme conditions as they race around the globe in a true test of fortitude and determination. It was founded by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin-Knox Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, round the world and this was the 13th edition of the biennial event. The global sailing event is the only event of its kind which trains people from all walks of life to become ocean racers, and many have no previous sailing experience before signing up for the intensive four levels of training prior to racing. Led by a professional Skipper and First Mate, Race Crew can complete the full circumnavigation or choose to test themselves on one or multiple legs. |
