Barton-le-Clay man leaves behind life in the boardroom for life on board a yacht

Trevor Orman, 60, has completed Leg 4 of the Clipper Race, taking him from Fremantle around the coast of Australia to Whitsunday Islands.

The 3,400 nautical mile race route Trevor chose meant spending the festive period at sea. He said: “It was a bit unsettling. I knew it was going to be exciting but at the same time, you have friends and family at home.

"You realise that the location that you are in is so unique that terrific but it was a bit emotional not being with family.

"I had the opportunity when I changed jobs to do something special, and I was on a flotillas holiday with my family and the Skipper of the flotilla actually did the Clipper Race.

"I got talking to him and he was so inspirational about it, I thought ‘I have got the opportunity to do something, so why not try it?’ So, I made enquiries.

“The clips that you see from the Clipper Race are so awesome; coming down a wave you can see all the excitement and adrenaline of it. It just hit me that's what I want to do.”

In total, almost 700 crew will take part in the 41,165 nautical mile circumnavigation which takes eleven months to complete. Crew can choose to race around the world or take part in one of more of the eight individual stages with the global route.

During Leg 4 Trevor experienced unpredictable conditions and a strong southerly current.

He said: “It was everything that I could have wished for, because we had the whole range; we had big swells, big waves, calmness - no waves, no wind.

"When you have three or four days of winds crashing over the boat it knocks you sideways - literally.

"Then you are just looking for a calm day. But, as soon as you get a calm day, you want the wind to come back because it just extends it and slows you in a race, so you want the conditions to vary.”

The Clipper Race is the only event of its type that gives people, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to race the world’s oceans.

Trevor's team came second in the race, he added: “When you join the Clipper Race you have a variety of ages and you’ve got different skill sets; you’ve got professional sailors and novices and you are in a confined area. It’s not like ‘I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ - you can’t get out!

"I was expecting behaviour and sociology challenges, but it was much easier because everyone was so willing to compromise and act in a way that was more supportive.

"At some points in the race, we were first, and the adrenaline rush, and for the last couple of days it was full on, we worked hard to avoid mistakes and we had to do everything really fast. It was brilliant to come in second.”

Each team, led by a professional skipper and first mate, is crewed by everyday people, from all walks of life and representing 43 different nationalities.

So far, the race has called into Portimao, Portugal, Punta del Este, Uruguay and Cape Town, South Africa and Fremantle, Australia.

After reaching the Whitsundays, Australia, the race will head to Sanya, China; Subic Bay, Philippines; Zhuhai and Qingdao, China; Seattle and New York, USA; Hamilton, Bermuda; Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland before finishing back in London in the Summer.