Antiguan adventure for Lowestoft lad

WHEN a teenager decided to move to Lowestoft two years ago in an effort to gain a new qualification, little did he know what the future would hold.But today Tony Holman was preparing to be part of a team of six men from across the country who had been chosen to embark on an 'amazing' overseas sailing race.

WHEN a teenager decided to move to Lowestoft two years ago in an effort to gain a new qualification, little did he know what the future would hold.

But today Tony Holman was preparing to be part of a team of six men from across the country who had been chosen to embark on an 'amazing' overseas sailing race.

And for the 19-year-old, who runs his own Holman Marina Solutions business in Oulton Broad, he admitted he was looking forward to an Antiguan adventure.

The youngster will be aboard a 50ft Incisor boat leaving Antigua in the West Indies for Cowes in England - as part of an international 22-day race.

'The whole journey will be an amazing test of endurance as we cope with irregular sleep patterns and 20m to 50m waves,' he told The Journal.

But looking forward to it, he admitted this would be his 'biggest race yet' and he's hopeful that it will potentially lead to a place in the crew of a team competing in the Round The World race.

'Two years ago I could not drive and had no business plan until I did a Yacht Masters course in Lowestoft at the International Boatbuilding Training College (in Oulton). 'This led me to starting my own boatbuilding business last April and as this has developed I recently received a call from a customer who said they were missing a bowman aboard their crew for this race - and whether I'd be interested….well I couldn't believe it!

'The last two years have been mad - from doing the course to now spending more than 20 days in international seas aboard a 12m boat with five others…it's absolutely unbelievable and I'm really excited!' he said.

To find out more about his boatbuilding business, log onto www.holmanmarinesolutions.com