A young Derry man is on his way to the other side of the world to set sail on the adventure of a lifetime.
David Pollock (31) will join the crew of the Derry Clipper for leg four of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
David (pictured), from Eglinton, is one of a number of local people who have secured the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sail the world’s seas as part of the Derry City and Strabane District’s Council’s Clipper Race Bursary Scheme.
Speaking ahead of his departure, David said he was delighted to be part of the team and avail of the “fantastic opportunity” to improve his skills, meet new people and travel to Australia as part of the Clipper Race crew.
He revealed he has been preparing for the challenge over the past number of weeks and months, keeping in contact with his team mates and following their progress as they secured second place in the third leg of the race from Cape Town, South Africa to Albany, Australia, where he will now join them.
He added: “I am really excited about going. I just want to get there, get on the boat and be part of the whole experience.
“We all received a huge amount of training to prepare us for the challenges ahead, four weeks in total on the boat.
“I am not nervous about it all. I really enjoy being at sea and have been lucky enough not to suffer from any sea sickness.
“The sail training was really enjoyable for me, I loved every minute of it. While some of it was tough, it really prepares you for all types of weather and situations, so I feel genuinely confident taking part.
"I’m a really competitive person so this is ideal for me and I hope that we will continue with the success we have enjoyed to date and secure another podium place for Derry~Londonderry~Doire.”
David is hoping that the Clipper Race experience will open up new opportunities and career paths for him: “This is a brilliant chance for me to widen my horizons and to make the most of this great opportunity.
"I want to get something positive out of it and will do everything I can to reap the benefits of the whole experience, already I have decided that I want to have a career when I get back, maybe learn a trade.”
David’s mum, Frances, said the whole family was 100% behind him:
She added: “This is an amazing opportunity for David we are so pleased that he has been selected to be part of the bursary scheme.
“We are so proud of him and wish him all the best in the race. It will be difficult not to have him at home for Christmas but that’s a sacrifice he is willing to pay for the huge opportunity it presents for him.”
Frances added : “While his dad Alistair, sister Catherine and brother James, will miss David’s jovial personality, it’s his nieces and nephews Luke, Katie, Brooke and Rowan, that will miss him most.
“The wee ones are all mad about David, they love him to bits so it will be difficult for them not to have him around for a while.
“All of the family are coming to spend Christmas with us this year now that David is away so everyone is being very supportive and caring.
“His granny Charlotte in Donemana is particularly proud, she has a real soft spot for David and is just over the moon that he is getting to travel to Australia and be part of this fantastic event.”
She concluded: We will miss him but we will be in regular contact via Facebook and Skype and look forward to having him home again at the end of January and to hear all his adventures.”
Leg four of the race will get underway on Tuesday next, 1 December, and will involve three races, the first of those to Sydney, after which the whole fleet participates in the famous Sydney-Hobart Race before the final stage at Airlie Beach in Queensland.
Photo shows David's mum Frances waving him goodbye as he left Derry bound for Australia.
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