Have you ever agreed to do something that is many months away and seemed like a good idea at the time? 🤓 

As the time nears, you have learnt more about what is involved, how far outside your comfort zone this is going to take you and you start saying to yourself "what the hell was I thinking !'' 🙄

I love everything about our oceans and what is in them, over the years they have given me so much pleasure, both on the surface and underneath. They are amazing places which I have a huge amount of respect for. 

I also feel proud that for the last 20 years my work has enabled me to give back to this beautiful planet. You can count in 'millions' the tonnes of waste we have diverted from landfill and our oceans. If we all gave more than we take, the world would a much nice place, in many ways,

So, on Sunday 17th November I leave Cape Town and head East to Australia on 'Dare to Lead', in the Clipper Round the World Yacht race. 

Crossing the Southern Ocean to Western Australia will be approx. 23 days, at sea, 4,500 miles, with wind speeds up to 70 knots 🌬, swells reaching 80 foot 🤮 and temperatures ranging from 5 to 28 degree.  At one point our nearest companions outside the fleet will be the astronauts at the International Space Station 👨‍🚀

What makes it more 'exciting' is that we are not the Volvo Ocean race, with a crew of highly skilled professional sailors, with the exception of the Skipper and First Mate we have had 4 weeks training, come from all walks of life and ages spanning from 18 to 74 😬

So, over 3 weeks with no phone, computer, lattes or booze (must be easier ways to do a dry November😫) sharing a bunk at 45 degrees with a complete stranger (when I say sharing, they get out and I get in) no shower and a change of clothes once per week, its going to be a bit like big brother in a washing machine and if I want to leave, tough ! 🙀

I hope you can give a little towards the fundraising, it does not need to be a lot, any amount would be truly appreciated 😇

Here is a sample of what it will be like (wish I'd watched this before signing up 🤔) -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=861lbJmVeSg

Anybody who wants to follow the race click on the race viewer - 

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/standings

this is always more exciting if you overlay the weather by clicking on the windsock. 

All donations are greatly appreciated, it does not have to be a lot.

thank's, everybody 😁

jon