Henri Lloyd’s Meg Reilly inspires young Jamaican’s with Clipper Race experience

Henri Lloyd crew member, Meg Reilly, 24 from New Jersey, USA visited Port Antonio’s local high school today to give a presentation on her Clipper Race experience and donate sports equipment, with an aim to inspire future generations of young adventurers in Jamaica.

Speaking to more than 100 students, aged 11 to 15 from Port Antonio High and Portland High School, Meg, who is the youngest female American to ever take part in the round the world race, explained how she first found out about the Clipper Race in November 2013 when she read a CNN article about people who quit their jobs to sail round the world in the world’s longest ocean race.

The advertising graduate quit her job and signed up for the race just three days later after finding sponsorship from US-based sports apparel and equipment company, 4POINT4.  The organization was founded in 2012 as a social enterprise with the vision that sports and fitness can be used as a powerful tool to build healthy communities.  4POINT4 offers customized sports apparel and equipment to teams and organizations, while donating a portion to charity.

Meg showed a short video of her team racing and explained the route the race had made from London’s Race Start in September 2014 to Jamaica and some of the storms and challenging weather conditions experienced during their journey. She also talked about her role as a watch leader, the joy of getting to know and bond with crew mates from all ages, backgrounds and nationalities, and the importance of team work and motivating each other through the challenging moments with positive mental attitude.

Her underlying message to her captive young audience was that you can achieve anything to set your mind on, whether it is sailing around the world, getting your dream job or achieving something you never thought was possible. Dream big, work hard and be your best.

After listening to Meg talk, the children had many questions which included, how do you prepare for storms? Do you ever get scared? When did you last see your family? What has been your most memorable experience at sea?

At the end of her talk, on behalf of 4POINT4, Meg presented basketballs, footballs, baseball caps, t-shirts and maps for classrooms, detailing the world history of sport to Natasha Willis, Head of Physical Education at Port Antonio High and Shaneka Clarke, a teacher from nearby Portland High School. Equipment will also be donated to nearby Titchfield High School, courtesy of 4POINT4.

Commenting on her experience at Port Antonio High School, Meg said “Getting to travel the world with the Clipper Race and meet young people like these today in Jamaica is really what makes this whole experience so incredible and fulfilling. Many came to me at the end to tell me some of the things in life that they want to achieve themselves when they grow up. It is a great feeling to think I could have inspired any of these young people to pursue their dreams and adventures through sport.”

4POINT4 Principle Mike Culver commented: “It is great what Meg is doing through her Clipper Round the World Yacht Race experience. Her work directly aligns with the 4POINT4 mission of building healthy communities and we are glad we are able to support by providing gear and resources for the developing areas that she is visiting along her  journey.”

To view the video from Port Antonio High School, made by the Jamaica Tourist Board CLICK HERE.  

To learn more about 4POINT4, CLICK HERE.