Dorset teacher heading for Rio in round the world yacht race

Suzanne Hughes will be joining the London to Rio leg of the journey after being sponsored by Knighton House School, where she works as a teacher.

The race was founded by Sir Robin Knox Johnson who was the first person to sail single-handedly around the world. Like Suzanne, crew members are not necessarily from a sailing background and take this on as a significant life-changing challenge.

Mrs Hughes said: “The Clipper Race will, I am sure, be a fantastic experience for me as it is for all who take part.

“I am very excited about being part of the crew – at the age of 51 it is not something you do without a great deal of thought and training.

“It will be a personal challenge and I am sure I will learn a huge amount in terms of life skills as well as sailing skills.”

Staff and pupils will be able to keep track of Mrs Hughes’ her progress at clipperroundtheworld.com

Sarah Wicks, headmistress of Knighton House School,Sarah Wicks said everyone at the school was supportive of Suzanne and were keen to follow her route as well as hearing all about it on her return.

She said: “We are immensely proud to support Suzanne in her decision to be a crew member of the clipper.

“It not only takes huge personal investment, training but also courage to do something so far away from her everyday life teaching sport.

“I know that she will find the experience enriching and will pass this on to the pupils on her return in October.”

The Clipper Race has chosen children;’s charity Unicef as it’s charity this year.

Catherine Cottrell, the charity’s UK director, Catherine Cottrell said: “A huge thank you to all the crew for supporting Unicef to make a safer world for children.

“You are taking on one of the greatest challenges on Earth, across the toughest oceans, and through your fundraising you will be helping a huge number of children who are experiencing even more dangerous challenges – violence, disease, hunger and the chaos of war and disaster.”