Managing Director Sets Sail on the Journey of a Lifetime

The Clipper Race is one of the biggest challenges of the competitive world and an endurance test like no other. With no previous sailing necessary, it’s a record breaking 40,000 nautical miles race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht.

Normally the domain of seasoned pros, this supreme challenge is taken on by ordinary, everyday people after they have completed a rigorous training course.

Debbie will be undertaking stage five, The Asia – Pacific Leg aboard ‘Liverpool 2018’. Starting in Eastern Australia, she will travel north to Sanya, China and Qingdao. This leg offers the most varied conditions of the race, testing teams to the max with a host of changing sailing and climatic conditions.

As the first race of the leg comes to a close, the fleet will enter the South China Sea, setting course for the golden sands of Sanya. After a relaxing stay soaking up the culture, it’s back on board for a race of extremes. It starts in tropical heat and light headwinds and then, as you track north, the weather turns colder. The winds pick up the sea becomes rougher and it’s time for thermals as Liverpool 2018 heads north towards the Olympic sailing city of Qingdao.

Commenting on the exciting event DRS MD, Debbie Francis said “I have undertaken a few adventures during the last 10 years and was ready for a new challenge when I spotted the Clipper Race being advertised on the London Underground”.

“As soon as I read about it, I knew. I have never sailed in my life and this looked both physically and mentally demanding… Right up my street!” Adding, “I’ve challenged myself through many adventures over the last 12 years and it has given me a confidence I can’t explain. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone enables personal growth and can make you a much stronger person. I’ve fundraised in the past for children’s charities and for the Clipper challenge I am fundraising for Unicef.”

“I’ve been asked numerous times over the last year, why am I still doing it and I found this fabulous quote from Mark Twain that says it better than I can and it was oh, so appropriate, in the circumstances… ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover'” said Debbie.

Debbie will return to work on March 21st 2018. During Debbie’s absence, Chris Connelly will be the Interim Managing Director and to allow Chris to take up this new position, Beverley Stothart has been appointed the Interim Commercial & Business Development Director.

You can follow Debbie’s team, Liverpool 2018 (pink boat) by following this link

For further info and updates during her adventure, please visit Debbie’s blog  and her fundraising page