Wokingham man turns 43 twice, mid-ocean
by Kathryn Pridie 2 May 14:47 BST
Kevin Lynch turns 43 twice as he crossed the International Date Line whilst competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race © Clipper Ventures
Kevin Lynch, from Wokingham, Berkshire, a former IT worker who is racing around the world despite having no previous sailing experience, lived his 43rd birthday twice this year as he crossed the International Date Line whilst competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Kevin and his teammates celebrated his birthday on 13th April twice, as they completed in the ninth stage of the circumnavigation called 'The big one' a 5,500 nautical mile long race across the North Pacific Ocean.
Speaking on arrival in Seattle, USA, Kevin said: "I had my birthday twice on board - it fell over where we crossed the International Date Line! I got two extra long sleeps, too, as I was on galley duty that day."
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is unique in that it takes ordinary people and trains them to become ocean racers, with no sailing background or experience necessary. Founded over 30 years ago by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world, and now in its fourteenth edition, Race Crew can sign up to one, multiple or - like Kevin - all six legs of the race, making them circumnavigators.
Kevin departed from Portsmouth, UK last August and has recently completed six of the eight legs that make up the global route. He has just completed Stage 9: The Big One to Seattle, sailing from Tongyong, South Korea. It's a race that will have been on most Race Crew's minds since this edition started. Renowned for its remote and demanding waters, it was summed up by Clipper Race Manager Hannah Brewis, who said: "The only way to describe it is relentless. You can't stop and it won't stop. The only way is to keep going."
Kevin and his teammates on Team Tongyeong, one of ten identical team yachts taking part, had a promising start to the race, but were slowed by a minor technical issue with one of the two rudders on board. Reflecting on the race, Kevin said: "Everyone did great, it's an incredible crew who came together and smashed it. The race might not have gone quite to plan but we made it albeit a day late, in time for prize-giving."
After a stopover in the US city of Seattle, Kevin is back on the water heading to the start line for the next race, down the west coast of the USA to Panama. From there, after transiting the Panama Canal, he will race up the USA's east coast to Washington, D.C. For the final homecoming leg, there will be one long race back to Oban, Scotland before a sprint back to Portsmouth in July, where Kevin will officially become a circumnavigator.
Follow the race and track the fleet at www.clipperroundtheworld.com