British UFC veteran Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy will swap the Octagon for the Atlantic ocean as a crew member of the Great Britain team for its 5,300-mile month-long opening leg of the famous Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race, from London, England to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Hardy, a 36-fight MMA veteran and color commentator for the UFC, has never sailed before starting his training for the race earlier this month.“I’ve had no previous experience of sailing but I have grown up with a strong affection for the sea, which I’ve always wanted to explore further, and I love to challenge myself,” explained Hardy. “To learn to sail and represent my country as part of a team on the GREAT Britain entry in the Clipper Race was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”
“The Clipper Race will be an entirely new challenge for me,” he added. “I’m used to competing individually against a physical opponent in contests which last for a maximum of five, five-minute rounds, but in this situation I will be part of a team, taking on 11 other teams as well as Mother Nature – likely the strongest, most unpredictable opponent I’ve ever faced – in a battle which will take an entire month. It will be a real test.”
The Clipper 2015-16 Race is the 10th edition of the biennial event and is the longest around the planet at 40,000 miles. It starts in London on August 30th and will take 11 months to complete eight legs in an international series of races over six continents.
Dan is the first of a team of UK athletes and personalities who will join the Great Britain team. Dan has just completed the first of his four Clipper Race training levels.
More than 670 people representing over 40 different nationalities will take part in the 10th edition of the Clipper Race. Members of the public can apply to take part in the whole circumnavigation or one or more of the eight legs. Applicants have to be 18 years old or above and in good general health. There is no upper-age limit. A few crew places are still available for this race and the 2017-18 edition is now open for applications.
Visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com for more details.
