On the crest of a wave

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Clipper Race Australia

The managing director of Launceston-based Continental Underfloor has successfully sailed from South Africa to Australia as part of the world’s longest ocean adventure.

Chris Ingram completed leg three of the celebrated Clipper Round the World Yacht Race by sailing across the Southern Ocean, setting off from Cape Town, South Africa and arriving in Albany, Western Australia. The race is regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet.

Ingram and 16 other team members tackled intense gale force storms, 40 foot swells, boat speeds of well over 30 knots and wind speeds of up to 70mph while sailing the ‘Wardan Whip’, on board the ClipperTelemed+ yacht.

He said: “Sailing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was one of the most exhilarating and challenging experiences of my life. It was a surreal moment when we came ashore in Australia – an amazing feeling. We were absolutely thrilled, if a little exhausted!

“Even as a keen and experienced sailor, this was a real test, and our achievement is a reflection of the team work, resilience and dogged determination we showed during our weeks at sea.”

Ingram was not the only Cornish person taking part in the race. Cornwall boasts more skippers in the race than any other part of the world, with three of the 12 boats having a Cornishman at the helm: Huw Fernie (31) from Falmouth skippering Visit Seattle; Peter Thornton (36) from Gorran Haven leading Great Britain; and Ashley Skett (31), a former firefighter from Newquay, in charge of Team Garmin.