Wow time flies! spring is here already. Which reminds me, It’s been a long time since I checked in, so I thought I would just write a few lines to say Hi and to keep you up to date with what’s been happening with me.
Tempting though it was to hibernate over Winter, I’ve actually been very busy. Busy doing what? you may ask. Well a lot of head scratching mainly. Nothing to do with creepy crawly’s I might add, but trying to decide what to do next about my dream to sail solo across the Atlantic.
It’s been a real tussle if I’m honest. It has been wizzing round my mind constantly, day and night. I found myself being so consumed by the whole thing that I couldn’t concentrate on anything else. A few weeks ago I was driving home from work whilst thinking hard about my sailing campaign. Embarrassingly, I sat in my car at the traffic lights, with a dozen or so cars behind me sounding their horns because I hadn’t noticed the lights turn green. My multitasking skills appear somewhat lacking. It’s just as well I settled on a plan otherwise it wouldn’t have been long before I left for work without trousers or something.
So in the end I put aside the months of cogitating, ruminating and deliberating and decided on the way forward by what felt right – the trusty gut instinct. So that said, I’m announcing my desire to compete in the ‘Artemis Transat‘ in 2012. This is a single handed transatlantic yacht race from Plymouth England, to Boston USA. The plan is to do a programme of training and as many races I as I can fit in to prepare for the Artemis Transat. This will satisfy my competitive nature and my dream of a solo sail across the Atlantic at the same time. Also I think my options of what to do next will have wider scope.
I still need a sponsor for all this to become a reality and for a while now I’ve been busy putting together and distributing my sponsorship proposal. I have nothing to report on this front just yet but as soon as I have a solid announcement to make, I shall be sure to let you know.
Best wishes, Julian
PS: I’ve been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century with a Facebook and Twitter page. Please feel free to join up and follow my mutterings on these websites, it would be great to see you there.
I’m really starting to feel excited about the new sailing season. I have my sail from The Azores to Portsmouth to look forward to in May. I can hardly believe I’m going to be crewing a boat halfway across the Atlantic!
I now have a launch date for my new boat (old boat but new to me). I’m really looking forward to finding out how well she sails. There is still lots to do before she is ship-shape and time is a bit tight, but she’s coming together nicely.
In 2009 I also have new cruising grounds to look forward to. My previous boat, which I shared with a friend, was moored at Whitby. This was great because you could sail out of the harbour at any state of tide. But in my opinion the scope for cruising was limited. If you want to sail offshore from Whitby your options are more or less limited to Norway, which is fine if you have lots of time on your hands.
My new boat will be moored on the west coast of England. The marina is a little bit more restricted than at Whitby. You can only pass in and out at certain times based upon high water. But in my view the scope for sailing is much better. From my marina I can sail to Ireland, Wales, the Scottish Islands and the Isle of Man. So much choice!
Knowing my humble background, if three years ago you would have told me I would soon have my own boat and be sailing half way accross the Atlantic I would never have believed it.
This is the beginning of a journey for me. My aim is to make a single handed voyage in a sail boat across the Atlantic Ocean and not only that, but to race. This would push most able bodied people to their limits, let alone someone with a physical disability like mine. I have Spina-Bifida, a spinal defect from birth. However, I am really fortunate because I am able to sail a yacht and sail single handed.
Sailing the Atlantic for me will be a first and I intend to make the whole experience from start to finish a really special time of my life. It’s a challenge which I would never have thought possible. But that is what life is all about, living life to the full, pushing through boundaries, achieving great things and inspiring others to make the most of their potential.
I’m not out to change the world, I shall leave that to far more capable people than I. But should I succeed I hope that in my small way that I might be able to inspire and motivate others to do something far beyond what they thought themselves capable of. Everyone has a fire in their belly, a desire to do something fantastic with their lives, but it is up to us to do something about it. Something which I aim to do from this moment on. Obstacles are to be expected, but obstacles are there to be overcome.
I can honestly say that already I am having the time of my life. I’m a disabled working class bloke from Bradford. Yet I sail the open sea, with its ever changing moods. It really is the most beautiful thing.
I hope you enjoy my blog and follow me as I take my journey from landlubber to ocean yachtsman. I welcome all your comments.
