Reading student in sailing world record attempt – University of Reading
08 June 2004
A 19-year-old Reading student is set to make sailing history by being part of the youngest crew ever to sail non-stop around the 1,800 miles of British coastline. Nick Cutter, who is studying land management, is one of 11 daring young sailors aged between 18 and 25 who will set off in a Whitbread 60 Ocean Race Yacht on Sunday 20 June 2004 from Ventnor, south of the Isle of Wight. In their yacht Blueprint, which is partly sponsored by the University of Reading and finished second in the 1993-4 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, the crew will sail at high speeds through some of the most demanding tidal and sea conditions in Europe. They will sail around Britain in a clockwise direction round Scotland, down the North Sea and back into Southampton. If they successfully complete the course through sail power alone and without assistance, it will result in a world record ratified by the International Sailing Federation and the World Speed Sailing Record Council. Nick, who is a member of the University's Sailing Club, said: "The opportunity to race on this type of boat is amazing and I feel it will help me fulfill my dream to race yachts after university. "I am looking forward to the challenges we will face at various times throughout the trip as well as doing my first long offshore passage." This record attempt is especially challenging as the crew are not professional sailors, in fact for some this will be their first experience of life aboard a yacht. The mixed crew, who met for the first time in January this year have already become a cohesive and hard-working team and are determined to set the new world record. The event is the initiative of Blue Box Sailing, which was set up by Jonathan Bradfield and Lisa Forbes to enable people to sail aboard professional race yachts. Both aged under 25 themselves, Lisa and Jonathan wanted to provide the opportunity for other young people to not only share in the enjoyment of sailing a fast racing yacht, but to develop themselves personally through facing the challenges aboard. To ensure the crew are fully prepared for the record attempt, they must undertake 16 days training, including RYA Sea Survival and First Aid courses. Blueprint departs from Ocean Village, Southampton at 9am on Sunday 20 June, 2004. The start line is at Ventnor south of the Isle of Wight, and the attempt begins at 1pm on 20 June. The estimated finish time is Friday 2 July. Earlier this year, former Reading meteorology student Adrienne Cahalan was navigator on board Steve Fossett's giant catamaran Cheyenne, which smashed the 'Jules Verne' Round the World record by nearly six days. End For further information or photos please contact Lisa Forbes or Jonathan Bradfield on 07971 624450 or 02380 232669, e-mail info@blueboxsailing.com or see the website http://www.blueboxsailing.com Alternatively, contact Craig Hillsley, the University of Reading's press officer on 0118 378 7388, e-mail c.hillsley@reading.ac.uk