Member Article

Anchors aweigh!’ for Wilkinson Maintenance’s Managing Director

Wilkinson Maintenance Ltd’s Managing Director, Stuart Anderson, is in training for a round the world sailing race to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance.

Stuart, 56, has begun a series of training weeks which will see him complete theory training, in which he will learn survival techniques, ocean passage planning and navigation skills, and practical training in which Stuart and the crew will learn basic and vital sailing procedures.

The Clipper Round the World Race is made up of 12 teams of 15 to 20 crew members that come from all walks of life, with different levels of sailing ability and from all corners of the globe. The teams will all be racing in a fleet of identical, 70-foot, stripped down racing yachts.

The race, which begins in July 2013, takes place over 11 months, 40,000 miles of ocean and is comprised of eight legs. Stuart will be taking part in two legs sailing from Capetown, South Africa to Geraldton, Australia. Stuart will then rejoin the boat in New York sailing to Canada, Ireland, Holland and back to the UK, a total of around 10,000 sailing miles.

Durham-based Wilkinson Maintenance is a full-service building company providing commercial and residential maintenance solutions. The business has extensive experience in complex refurbishment projects, which also cover plumbing and electrical installation work required as part of developments.

Wilkinson Maintenance regularly participates in fund raising activities for the Great North Air Ambulance. Last year Mark Rapley, General Manager, raised £2,500 with a sky dive jump and the company recently completed creating a garden at the charity’s head quarters at Teesside Airport.

Stuart Anderson said: “The training has been really enjoyable so far and I am learning a lot. I used to be a keen sailor in the 1980s so I’m picking things up very easily. The race is going to be gruelling so the comprehensive training of theory based skills, such as navigation and survival, and practical skills should stand the crew in good stead to cope with whatever may be thrown at us.

“The whole team at Wilkinson Maintenance have been so supportive and I am grateful to have their backing.

“I decided to sail for the Great North Air Ambulance as it is a fantastic cause and one that we are very supportive of here at Wilkinson Maintenance.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Wilkinson Maintenance .