Round-the-world sailor Heather Broadbent has finally finished her epic voyage – almost three years since she first set sail!
Heather was one of only two crew members who completed every leg of the 48,000-mile journey on board the yacht GoToBermuda.
She has raised almost £31,000 for East Cheshire Hospice where her late husband Adam (45) was a patient.
Heather is still hoping to get close to her fundraising target of £40,000 for the Hospice @Home service.
Home at last…Heather Broadbent completes her round-the-world voyage.
The Disley landscape gardener travelled to the Philippines in February to resume a race delayed for two years because of the pandemic.
Before the break, she had sailed to South America, South Africa and Australia.
Once the race resumed, she raced across the Pacific to Seattle, through the Panama Canal to Bermuda and on to New York before Derry/Londonderry and finally finished in London.
Heather said: “I’m so relieved it’s all over. I was wary about going back after such a long break due to the Covid outbreak, but am so pleased I did.
“I would have kicked myself if I’d not finished it off. I enjoyed the second half of the race better than the first and the sailing more after I went back.
“Crossing the North Pacific was the highlight, it covers so much of the planet, while the Panama Canal was an adventure in itself.
“We came second on the leg to Bermuda which until then was our best finishing position. It was our team homecoming, we were greeted like conquering heroes. The buzz and vibe was amazing.
“We then came first on the Atlantic leg, recording the fastest time in the history of the Clipper Race for that crossing which took us 13 days.
“Lastly, we sailed over the top of Scotland to London through the Pentland Firth, a strait near the Orkneys which can be quite treacherous.”
Heather will now enjoy a well-earned rest. She said: “I’m going to press reset and spend some time in my garden and have a think about what’s next.
“At the moment I’ve no great plans to go sailing again, but never say never.
“It would be great to get closer to my fundraising target and I’ve had a few more donations with the race ending.
” Supporters can still donate because Hospice @Home is such a wonderful service.”
Heather Broadbent covered 48,000 miles during her epic voyage.
* To sponsor Heather visit www.justgiving.com/dreamitnowdoit.
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