A MAN whose previous sailing experience was on boat trips as a child at Yorkshire seaside town Bridlington has completed a round-the-world yacht race.
Mr Peter McGrath, of Gypsy Lane, Kings Langley, made the final leg home on Wednesday, September 26, after a year at sea in a 60ft yacht.
He was taking part in a 16-leg race against seven other crews made up of amateur volunteers, apart from the skippers, in an event sponsored by TheTimes newspaper The Times Clipper 2000.
Mr McGrath, 59, a retired London Electricity project manager, who has recently moved from Chipperfield said although his yacht, Leeds, came last but one, and he suffered terrible sea-sickness, he had learned from the trip.
He said that before his body "finally cracks up" he fancied a challenge, and so responded to an article in The Times for volunteer crew members. However, he said he will not be rushing to don his waterproofs and is pleased to be on dry land with his children; Jonathon, 20, Anna, 19, and Thomas, 14.
In the bay of Tokyo, along with the other amateur members of the crew he braved 65 knot winds.
Four of the boats were damaged, and his craft lost its main sail, when the sliders which attach the sail to the mast snapped, forcing them back to Japan for repairs.
He said: "That was the hairiest moment leaving Yokohama in the high winds and bobbing around trying to keep out of the way of the commercial shipping."
People aged between 18 and 64 made up the mixed crews and Mr McGrath said he was proud to be the oldest to complete the race.
He said: "I am not a natural sailor. I found it extremely hard, but of course it was a great pleasure to complete the whole race.
"I didn't want to come back and say I had given in. They the family would be disappointed.
"I suppose I feel it's quite an achievement to stick it out and last the whole of the race.
"Quite a few times I thought I would pack it in, especially with the sea-sickness, but I thought I would just take the next leg and see."
Mr McGrath said: "There are very few people that have sailed around the world and I am one of them now."
October 10, 2001 20:07
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