RENE van der Hulst is edging closer to realising his dream of racing across the Atlantic.
Rene, 41, a product manager from Forest Dale Road, Marlborough, is taking part in a new transatlantic yacht race, The Challenge Transat 2002. Undertaking the role of crew volunteer, he will join a team of 15 on board one of six identical 72ft racing yachts.
The yachts are the same yachts that circumnavigated the globe in the BT Global Challenge 2000-2001. The Challenge Transat 2002 is a unique race because it enables novice sailors to take part in the blue riband adventure of crossing the Atlantic.
Crew volunteers receive full training to cope with the unpredictability of the North Atlantic.
Skipper Jon Jeffreys, who trained Rene, said: "On the second phase of training, we start to get tough to make sure they are physically and mentally prepared for the race."
He added that Rene contributed well to the training and is thoroughly looking forward to putting the hard work into practice.
Full of enthusiasm, Rene cannot wait to reach the start line.
He said: "This was yet another excellent course and proved a fine opportunity to put all we had learnt together."
The Challenge Transat is divided into two races, the first setting sail from Southampton on August 25 and second from Boston on September 29.
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