AN AMATEUR sailor from Falmouth is swapping his career in aeronautical engineering to skipper a boat in a round the world race.

Huw Fernie is heading out onto the water for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race which sets off on August 30 with competitors travelling 40,000 nautical miles.

The race was founded by legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and sees racers tackle 15 separate scoring sections around the globe.

Open only to amateurs, more prople have climbed Mount Everest than completed the race but Fernie said the chance to give it a shot was one he could not turn down.

Fernie said: “It felt like the timing was right because I've known about the clipper race for so long.

“I have had a lot of encouragement from previous race skippers and also from the crews I've trained where I have worked as a training mate since 2012.

“I've always wanted to sail around the world and the challenge of doing it in a race seems like a great idea.”