Wigan sailing ace completes round-the-world trip

A former Scout from Wigan has joined the select band who have sailed around the world.
Andy GreenoughAndy Greenough
Andy Greenough

Intrepid Andy Greenough was at sea for 335 days and racked up more than 40,000 miles aboard the Nasdaq team vessel, in the Clipper 2018 race.

Other news: Hike in exclusions from borough's schoolsFor the 53-year-old forester, the journey, via 13 hotly contested legs, was the thrill of a lifetime.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And it all began when Andy, who lives in Appley Bridge, first got his sea legs with Parbold Scouts on Southport’s Marine Lake.

His interest in all things nautical was revived during a trip to Australia with wife Emma, a few years ago, when he caught one of the races.

The plan initially was perhaps for Andy to sail just one of the legs, from Sydney to Hobart, before he ended up taking on the complete challenge.

He said: “The race from Sydney is just spectacular - you’ve got hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes and helicopters flying overhead as you set off.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Their captain, Rob Graham, was the only full-time seaman on board, with a revolving cast of crew providing support en-route.

Each participant received the same four weeks training in Gosport before their departure and at least 20 were keeping their crafts afoat at any one time, encountering hurricane winds in the North Pacific and some of the loneliest stretches of water on the planet.

Andy was able to meet up with his wife and stepchildren, Ellie and Sam, at various ports and they welcomed him back into Liverpool at the conclusion.

“It has been absolutely incredible,” he added.

“We berthed at the same spot we left from and my family is in the same spot on the dock where they waved me off from 11 months ago.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Andy, who has taken time out from his firm, Working Woodlands, to compete in the Clipper race, is proud of the fact that more people have climbed Everest than sailed around the world,

And he is keen to share his experience with fellow Scouts and hopefully inspire others to tackle this and other feats .

Related topics: