A Galway City Council traffic engineer from Rahoon is set to take part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the world’s longest ocean race.
Forty-year-old Jim Molloy, who is originally from Armagh, has spent the past year in training for the event, losing eight stone in the process, going from an unhealthy 22 stone to 14 stone.
It has been a lifelong ambition for Mr Molloy to take part in the Clipper race, a 40,000-mile, 11-month race which allows people, under the guidance of a professional skipper, to pit themselves against the challenge of circumnavigating the globe.
“I was thrilled when I found out I had been accepted on to the race,” says Jim. “Although my sailing experience is limited to being in a dinghy twice. At 22 stone there was no way I was going to be able to take part in the Clipper race. I wouldn’t have been able to climb the mast, or any of the other things crew need to do. It has really encouraged me to remain focused and I can’t wait to start the race.”
Jim will join the Clipper 13-14 Race for Leg 8 which will cover over 3,750 miles from New York to London and which starts on Saturday June 7.
