Gosport sailor ready to skipper his Clipper Race crew

A GOSPORT sailor has said it will be a '˜privilege' to skipper a team in this year's Clipper round-the-world race.
Skipper Roy Taylor of GosportSkipper Roy Taylor of Gosport
Skipper Roy Taylor of Gosport

Former RAF weapons technician Roy Taylor will take on one of his biggest challenges when he leads a crew in the popular endurance challenge later this year.

The 47-year-old, originally from Yorkshire, has spent most of the past decade as a sailing instructor in both the UK and Germany but recently has been working with young people from the Marine Society and Sea Cadets of training brig the TS Royalist.

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Speaking about his selection, he said: ‘It’s been quite a rigorous process. It’s been hard, been tough but been rewarding.

‘I’ve been doing quite a lot of physical stuff to get myself ready.

‘I’m just looking forward to meeting the teams now.’

As part of the selection process, Roy was interviewed about his sailing experience and took on trials over three days.

It is the first time he will take part in the race, which starts in August.

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He said: ‘It’s quite a privilege, there’s been a lot of hard work to get to this point.

‘It’s great to represent Yorkshire and my adopted home of Gosport and Portsmouth.

‘I’m just looking forward to getting under way.’

Among the highlights on Roy’s journey will be passing around Australia and China.

A total of 12 teams are competing in this year’s edition of the race, which is held every two years. Among Roy’s rivals will be Nikki Henderson, who is set to become the Clipper Race’s youngest skipper at 24.

Crews will cover more than 40,000 nautical miles during the race, which will take more than a year to complete.