Chris Brooks will set sail to complete an around-the-world race this month – and the team are currently leading by 11 points!

He is the skipper (the one in charge) in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and has decades of sailing experience.

The race started in September 2019 and was cancelled in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Now the race is set to commence in March.

Chris, who is from Richford, said: “Everyone is very excited to set sail. There will be no sitting back as there are still plenty of points to pick up.”

Echo: Challenge of a lifetime - Chris has work towards this for three decades.Challenge of a lifetime - Chris has work towards this for three decades.

Chris and the rest of the crew were on their way to China by sea when Covid-19 hit.

“We sailed to the Philippines and so we will be picking up where we left off from there,” he says.

The team were granted a Special Event Permit from the Philippines, after the sailing event was suspended in Subic Bay.

What will be the most challenging aspect of the race?

“Sailing across the North Pacific Ocean will be the most challenging part. The usual way to travel around the world by boat is to go around the bottom of the globe. Sailing the North Pacific Ocean from the Philippines we will be far from land. But we will all support each other and be there if anyone needs support,” said Chris.

Once the fleet tackles the mighty North Pacific Ocean, which is known as ‘the big one’ they will be racing towards Seattle and expected to arrive in the US city in mid April 2022.

The team includes Chris, a first mate, who is a professional sailor, and nine amateurs.

The Clipper Race is the only event of its kind which trains people from all walks of life to become ocean racers.

Participants sign up to compete in one or multiple legs, or the full eleven month and 40,000nm circumnavigation.

Echo: Learning the ropes - Chris learning to sail as a youngster.Learning the ropes - Chris learning to sail as a youngster.

The eleven strong fleet have so far raced over 20,000 nautical miles (nm) from London, with stops in Portugal, Uruguay, South Africa, Australia.

Chris, who is a member of Leigh Sailing Club, completed a solo trip 2013 around Britain in memory of his two friends. Chris was the only survivor of a tragic boating accident which killed Glenn Foster, 23, from Colchester, and Chris Hull, 52, from Southend.

He completed the challenge in 39 days, averaging 60 miles a day and on some occasions completing 120 miles in a single sailing day.

Now Chris is putting Great Britain on the map with his incredible skill and determination.

To follow the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com.