A ‘Help for Heroes’ sailing trip will be
setting off in March from Falmouth to Aden, in Yemen.

The adventurous voyage in a Crystal 23
yacht aims to replicate a challenge undertaken by General Sir Peter de la
Billiere and a crewmate in 1962, while raising funds for the Help for Heroes
charity.

Sheamus Devine, who is organizing the new
project, said it will involve one small cruiser, two sailors, 4,200 miles each way and no
engine.

He said: ‘In 1962, Sir Peter de la Billiere
sailed a small yacht from Falmouth to Aden, in the Yemen.

‘It took three months, covered 4,200 miles and
he estimated they spent 800 hours sat steering the yacht’s tiller.

‘He was nearly washed out of the cockpit
four times during storms and in Cairo he had to wrestle a python before fleeing
for his life from a local drinking den.

‘In March 2013, I will be replicating his
voyage, the only difference is that while Sir Peter sold his boat in Yemen to take up a post as a special intelligence officer, and his crew flew back to England, I will be sailing my boat Crystal Wake back to the UK via the Azores.’

He added: ‘I will be sailing a restored Crystal 23
identical to the one he purchased from French Bros nearly 50 years ago.

‘I will be making landfall at the same
places as Sir Peter – Tangiers, Gibraltar, Malta, Suez and finally Aden.

‘I will be accompanied by a
recovering soldier on the outward and return legs – in partnership
with Help For Heroes, we will be hoping to boost the morale of a couple of
injured military personnel.

‘We have set ourselves a target of raising
£25,000 for Help for Heroes but in truth, even if we only raise £100, we will
be happy.’

To follow the project’s progress find the
Facebook page ‘Falmouth to Aden’ or click here.

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