Race 13 - Day 1
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland to Den Helder, Netherlands
18 July

As I write there are only 6 or 7 days left before I finish my circumnavigation, completing a mammoth journey inspired by others that could not complete theirs. The oceans represent a frontier world full of danger and excitement: something to race or simply to cross. Either way, it draws us in.

To say completing the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a massive achievement feels like a bit of an understatement at the moment. It reduces the achievement of the leggers who have given their all for their time on board and forgets the support of the committed family and friends who have been there for their racers in port and all around the world. To all the crews and families and friends, I issue a hearty well done. The Clipper Race Bubble will soon burst and we will all be back to reality but nothing can reduce what we have participated in these last 11 months.

This is a singular experience; there is no other way that we could have accessed this adventure. I'd been on a yacht all of 10 days before I signed up for this: sailing was an aspiration, circumnavigation consigned to 'Never Never Land.' It was something the heroes did, heroes like New Zealander Sir Peter Blake, Whitbread racer and successor to Jacques Cousteau as Skipper of the Sea Master. Sir Peter was killed defending the Sea Master from pirates in 2001. Closer to home, my good friends Jon and Clare both died (in 2011 and 2013 respectively) before they got to sail the oceans together as they had planned. My conclusion: life's short, play hard and be grateful for the experiences we gather while we are all well and able.

And I am grateful for the dedicated team at the Clipper Race Office and those in the maintenance crew. Their good humour and willingness to listen and help has been exemplary. No doubt there were times when they rolled their eyes in despair as we returned the boat to the workshop in bits, sails stripped of their hanks, stanchions and deck fittings bent or missing. The office patiently fielded repeated questions and enquiries, enduring individuals' sleep-deprived meltdowns and hissy fits, always taking the time to listen with a sympathetic ear. This team was always there to support our individual aspirations and must be congratulated and lauded for their achievements. Thank you one and all.

It's the funny thing about natural born leaders: they will inspire more people than they can ever know. No doubt Sir Peter was inspired by Sir Robin, and without Sir Robin I would not be returning to the classroom to inspire and empower others to seek their goals with persistence, self- belief, and tenacity.

To my team, Garmin, Skipper Ash and all the crew: We set out on this adventure as a disparate bunch of people with various aptitudes, experience and expectations. Our goals were to have a happy, competitive boat. On both accounts, I feel proud to acknowledge that we have achieved our goals. I have met many new friends that, no matter where they are or how often I see them, will always share with me the deep understanding of the journey we have been on. The Clipper Race family experience reinforces the universal truth of the Maori proverb "He aha te mea nui? He tangata. He tangata. He tangata." What is the most important thing in the world? It is people. It is people. It is people.

Kia kaha. Stay strong.

Andy Kerrison