British Olympian sets off on Atlantic Homecoming Leg in Clipper Race

by Marina Thomas – Clipper Ventures on 21 Jun 2016 Nathan Robertson, who has an Olympic medal, two Commonwealth titles and 17 other titles, left New York with the GREAT Britain team on Monday to once again represent his country but this time in an entirely different challenge, the final leg of the world’s longest ocean race.

Nathan, who retired from professional badminton in 2012, had no sailing experience before starting training last year alongside the other 700 international amateur sailors competing in the 40,000 nautical mile ocean adventure. He is one of a number of British athletes testing themselves in a leg of the race on board the GREAT Britain entry.

He said he was “energised” to start the race and would be bringing a lot of positive drive to the GREAT Britain team, which is currently third in the overall Clipper Race rankings.

Nathan will sail 3,100 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean to London via Derry Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and The Netherlands before the final race back into London’s St Katharine Docks, at Tower Bridge, where the series concludes on 30 July.

He said before leaving port: “I am very competitive, but this is completely out of my comfort zone, like all the other ordinary people taking part. I am looking forward to being up on the foredeck where all the action and athletic stuff happens and you can feel the speed of the boat increasing.

“The race is a unique experience and brings together people from every different walk of life into a situation where you are uncomfortable, but doing something which is quite incredible and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I’m a good team player and my energy is unlimited so I will keep going, despite the ocean environment being very different to the sports halls I’ve been playing in during my career before now.

“We are in a battle with team Garmin as GREAT Britain is only four points ahead in third place, so we need to sail our boat home onto the podium which is definitely going to be a motivating factor.

Predicting what he sees as the more challenging aspects of living aboard a 70ft yacht for the next few weeks, Nathan says: “I burn a lot of energy and eat a lot of food, but as we will eat mostly out of tins towards the end of the leg, it won’t be too appetising. Seasickness is also tough, but the tough pill is the one you want to take to get through it.”

Nathan is the final of four Olympic and Paralympic athletes who have competed as ambassadors on board the GREAT Britain yacht in the global series this edition.

The Clipper Race, known as one of the toughest endurance events on the planet, presents a new physical and mental challenge for the elite athletes.

Olympic sprinter Abi Oyepitan completed the All-Australian leg, Olympic Rower Bill Lucas crossed the Southern Ocean from South Africa to Australia, and Paralympic skiing guide Charlotte Evans MBE sailed from Australia to China via Vietnam.

Former UFC fighter Dan Hardy also took part in the opening leg from London to Rio de Janeiro, after which he said crossing the Atlantic was tougher than taking on any opponent in the octagon.

The Clipper 2015-16 Race marks the tenth edition of the unique global event which was established by legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing history, the chance to experience the thrill of ocean racing.

More than 700 amateur crew members are competing in the 2015-16 edition, representing 44 different nationalities. Organisers provide four weeks of intensive training which prepares crew for racing across the world’s most challenging oceans. The only professionals on board the twelve identical 70-foot ocean racing yachts are the Skippers.

The 2015-16 series is GREAT Britain’s second entry in the Clipper Race following its second place finish in the 2013-14 edition. The GREAT Britain campaign is the Government’s most ambitious international marketing campaign ever and showcases the very best of what Britain has to offer in order to encourage the world to visit, study and do business with the UK. The campaign is active in over 144 countries worldwide.