To start with, before I started training for this mammoth event, I had never sailed before.  I am a short, overweight and unfit middle aged unathletic person who is swapping my normal 5 star standard accommodation for a shared bunk and sleeping bag for eleven months.  I have no doubt whatsoever that I am going to struggle - big time.  For the whole time. My struggle, though, is self inflicted - for many people their struggle is not of their own volition and there is no end in sight.  For the last twenty five years I have been part of the "ABTA family", and whereas it is not always the best paid industry, the people within it are passionate about travel - as am I.  This will be a huge challenge for me, although it is incomparable to the challenges some people face daily.  Every small donation will make my eleven month discomfort worthwhile.  And sharing my unbelievable stupidity with your friends and family will help to raise awareness of the lifelines this charity throws.