Blidworth dad to cross the Atlantic in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race

Adam Cowen 51, has landed a place in the crew of a yacht in the first leg of the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race.

On Sunday Adam will set sail across the Atlantic to Rio De Janeiro on the 72ft DaNang from St Katherine’s Dock, London.

Father of three Adam said: “I am extremely looking forward to it.

“I have done four weeks of training and I can’t wait to get on board.”

The leg of the race is expected to reach the Brazilian coast on September 26.

“The training was as very intensive,” said Adam.

“I have learned how to raise the sails, how to cook at a 35 degree angle and what to do in emergencies, like when someone is swept overboard.

“We have been sailing up and down and across the English Channel and I’ve been seasick a few times.

“But we will be at sea for a month, so I hope the sea sickness will all disappear in a few days.

He added: “The weather will be quite normal to start with , but once you get out of the channel it gets quite choppy.

“The biggest challenge will be when we cross the equator and hit the Doldrums. there will be very little wind, high temperatures and lots of rain.”

The racing yacht Adam will board is sponsored by the Vietnamese city of Da Nang in the spirit of cultural exchange.

Adam was among 100 guests to the Embassy of Vietnam in London this week where he was introduced to the Vietnamese ambassador.

His wife Karen said the inspiration for his epic voyage came about when she took him to London for his 50th birthday.

She said: “I saw the adverts for the race.

“Knowing he had always wanted to do something extreme and challenging, I started the application process, and he got on.”

Adam has so far raised over £500 for his chosen charity Children on the Edge.

The Clipper Round The World Yacht Race - a record breaking amateur 40,000 nautical mile race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht, is one of the biggest challenges of the natural world.

The event is open to people aged over 18 years old With no previous sailing experience necessary, and a thirst for adventure into the unknown.

IOt is divided into eight legs and 16 individual races, participants can choose to complete the full circumnavigation or select individual legs.

It is the only race in the world where the organisers supply a fleet of twelve identical racing yachts, each with a fully qualified skipper to safely guide the crew.

The full route takes in Brazil, South Africa, Australia Vietnam , China USA Ireland and Holland , before finishing back in London 11 months later.

Participants usually choose a charity to sponsor.