'Highs and lows' for Andrew Jones (From Dorset Echo)

'Highs and lows' for Andrew Jones

3:26pm Friday 5th February 2010

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FORMER Dorchester schoolboy Andrew Jones, who swapped office life for the open sea, is experiencing ‘massive highs and lows’ in his round-the-world odyssey.

The 37-year-old, who quit his managing director role at Flamingo UK Limited to embark on the Clipper 09-10 Yacht Race, is currently en route to China.

Andrew, who attended Thomas Hardye School, is crewing aboard Uniquely Singapore and has just enjoyed a ‘great stopover’ in Singapore on leg four from western Australia to Qingdao.

The recently-reduced fleet of nine 68-foot yachts were given a rousing send-off from Keppel Bay on Tuesday with live music, a mass of flags and huge confetti cannons.

After 10 activity-filled days onshore and – for the majority of the teams – almost a week in Batam, Indonesia, the crews were eager, if a little nervous, to get back to sea for one of the most gruelling legs of Clipper 09-10.

The 2,600-mile race will take them through extremes of weather with light winds and searing heat, followed by strong headwinds and counter-currents producing an extremely choppy sea state and freezing weather as they beat their way north towards the Olympic sailing city of Qingdao.

Andrew described the trip so far as ‘one of massive highs and lows in all aspects’ as highlighted by the drama last month when the yacht Cork hit a submerged reef and had to abandon the race.

All 16 crewmembers were evacuated to safety on board other Clipper yachts but it served ‘as a reminder as to how cruel the elements can be’.

Crews were also hit by ‘massive sub-tropical storms’ after leaving Geraldon, Australia.

Andrew said: “There are times when you are completely down, tired, cold and wet but you have to keep going and it is all about team work and keeping the motivation and belief.

“Overall I’m loving it, it’s a great experience dealing with the elements and the amazing natural scenes.”

His parents Chris and Mick Jones, of Barrow Close, Dorchester, met Andrew in Australia for Christmas and said he had grown a ‘bushy beard’ ready for the colder climates.

Mum Chris said: “He is enjoying the sailing, although I think it’s very hard work.”

Former Weymouth pub landlord Jan Ridd, who is skippering the Cape Breton Island yacht, won the latest race to Singapore.

Jan 46, who used to own the Bar On The Corner, said ‘kind’ sea and weather conditions were helping his team to find their sea legs again.

He added: “The only problem that we are all suffering with is the heat below decks.

“Hopefully, as we head north we will see the temperature drop, but not too quickly, as it would be nice to see a gradual transition to the sub-zero temperatures we expect later on in this race!”

The race is expected to return to the UK on July 17 for a big homecoming in the Humber.

Full positions are updated every three hours and can be found at clipperroundtheworld.com.

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