One man in his dinghy
David Somerville.
AFTER three years of planning, a daredevil grandad has finally achieved his ambition to cross the rough Irish Sea in a single-handed dinghy.
Former Harborough businessman David Summerville had hoped to complete the endurance event last September alongside a fellow sailor, but in the end success came on a lonely 12-hour journey in challenging conditions on May 14.
And the 52-year-old sailor believes it was the first time a small Laser dinghy has been used to cross the notoriously rough Irish Sea.
A boatbuilder and veteran sailor, Mr Summerville undertook the challenge alone in his Laser 27087, sailing 80 miles from Howth in Ireland to Holyhead in Wales.
He said: “I had planned to sail all the way to my home town of Southport, England, but conditions on the day didn’t allow this and a decision was made to divert to Holyhead. This still represents a unique endeavour in a Laser dinghy.”
Mr Summerville, a former member of both the Rutland and Hollowell sailing clubs, was hoping to raise £50,000 for mental health charity Mind and the John Merricks Sailing Trust, and said afterwards: “I plan to continue fundraising by presenting after dinner talks, primarily at sailing clubs, outlining details of my motivation, preparation for and execution of the Irish Sea Challenge.”
He moved to Harborough in 2002, setting up his business, Phoenix Marine, at the Welland Business Park, before moving to Hertfordshire two years ago.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
