RCN lead member returns from round the world yacht race

RCN professional lead on long term conditions Amanda Cheesley returned this week from a gruelling 16 days at sea in which she competed in the second leg of the annual Clipper Round the World yacht race.

Crewing with 19 strangers aboard the 70ft Visit Seattle sailing boat, Ms Cheesley was appointed medical officer for the 3,400-mile voyage from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to Cape Town, South Africa.

She took part to raise money for Breast Cancer Care in honour of her sister Claire, who died from the disease two years ago. So far Ms Cheesley has raised £4,000.

While she only had to treat the crew for minor bruises and a touch of sea sickness, the weather proved much less easy to deal with.

Speaking to Nursing Standard on her first day back at work yesterday, she said: ‘The storms in the south Atlantic spring up without warning, the seas were monstrous at times with waves crashing over us and lots of water in the boat on a regular basis.

‘I’ve got no one to blame but myself for taking part, my colleagues here think I’m totally mad – which I am.

‘I always had a healthy respect for the sea, but far more now. It’s a one-off for me but a fantastic way to challenge myself and be outside my comfort zone for so long.’

She set off from Rio on October 8 and got to Cape Town on October 23.  

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