Sailors aged 14 and 82 complete tour of Britain

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Murdoch McGregor, 82, and Katie McCabe 14, became the oldest and youngest sailors to tour Britain

Katie McCabe, 14, and Murdoch McGregor, 82, have completed their world tour around Britain and made history books.

Katie now takes the torch of the youngest to have sailed solo around Great Britain via the Caledonian Canal from Timothy Long, who achieved the feat last year, at age 15. He supported his challenge.

This is an unofficial record because Guinness World Records does not recognize records set by under-16s.

McGregor is now the oldest person to tour Britain, and the family are still awaiting Guinness World Records ratification.

Murdoch McGregor made many solo trips, including from Scotland to London, then inland to Oxford. Credit: Murdoch McGregor

He will set the benchmark for the feat as the organization currently has no record for the oldest person to sail around Britain. He sailed via Cape Wrath.

Katie’s journey aboard her West Channel One Design sloop built by Morgan Giles in the 1950s, Falanda left the River Exe on June 30 and lasted seven weeks and four days.

For insurance reasons, her father, David also had to sail counterclockwise, keeping two miles behind her in her 33ft yawl.

It was not his first long solo trip. The teenager sailed Falanda, which she herself restored, from the River Exe to the Isles of Scilly and back in 2020, again in her father’s shadow.

Katie McCabe, who at 14 toured Britain via the Caledonian Canal

Katie McCabe redesigns her 26 foot West Channel One Design sloop, Falanda herself with the help of her father. Credit: Tom Hurley

Katie said the only challenge in her circumnavigation was crossing the Menai Strait, having arrived later than expected.

“You really should get over there dead water, but because we were late we rushed. It’s best not to have a tide at the Swellies, but we ended up crossing at 12 knots which was a little terrifying, ”said Katie, who has spent most of her life living and sailing on board. from the converted 50ft family fishing trawler. Ros Ailither.

She said the trip went well, with several overnight stays; the only faulty gear was a broken water pump and impeller which were repaired at Fishguard.

When asked why she liked solo sailing, she replied, “It’s really nice and calming. I can be alone for a while and think.

Katie McCabe returning to the River Exe after sailing solo around Britain via the Caledonian Canal

Katie returning to the River Exe after sailing solo around Britain via the Caledonian Canal. Credit: Tom Hurley

Memorable moments included sailing with the dolphins on the way from Milford Haven, Wales to Newlyn, Cornwall.

We had phosphorescence in the water. It was like shiny green dust, then the dolphins came. We could only see the outlines of the dolphins in green; they were like torpedoes firing in black water, ”she said.

Katie is a passionate environmentalist and has managed to raise over £ 15,600 for the Sea Shepherd UK charity.

Katie McCabe sailing on Falanda

At 14, Katie McCabe took the unofficial record for the youngest sailor to tour Britain from Timothy Long, who supported her challenge. Credit: Tom Hurley

Donate to Katie’s fundraising appeal for Sea Shepherd UK here.

She now plans to “try her hand at running” and make other solo trips, notably to Biscay.

Katie met Murdoch McGregor in Oban, as the two were touring the world.

The octogenarian described their meeting as the highlight of his trip, praising his seamanship skills and stating that “she is the most exciting young person I have ever met.

A seasoned boater, Murdoch didn’t start sailing until he was 72 and decided to circle Britain clockwise via Cape Wrath after his solo trip in Norway has been postponed due to COVID-19.

Murdoch McGregor didn't start sailing until he was 72 years old.

Murdoch McGregor didn’t start sailing until he was 72 years old. Credit: Murdoch McGregor

He left his home port of Alloa on the River Forth in Scotland aboard his Hunter Horizon 232, Artemis June 5, ending August 22, the same day as Katie.

The member of the Forth Cruising Club has previously sailed solo to St Kilda, Shetland, the Baltic Sea to Poland, having met the German sailor Rudiger Engel and his son Alex in the Shetlands, and from the Forth to London, then to the inland to Oxford.

He also toured Scotland via the Caledonian Canal, his first major solo adventure. Initially he intended to sail up the coast 70 miles to Stonehaven, but with the encouragement of his friend, Nigel Holl, who first persuaded Murdoch to start sailing, he “kept moving” .

“I was doing stories every day and they compared me to Forest Gump. Instead of shouting “Run Forest Run” they were shouting “Sail Murdoch Sail!

Continued below …

Younger and older sailors attempting to circle Britain on their own in opposite directions – Katie McCabe, 14 and …

Katie mccabe

If successful, 14-year-old Katie could take over from Timothy Long as the youngest person to sail solo.

Timothy Long (15) arrives in Largs as he attempts to become the youngest to sail solo around Britain.  Timothy of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, chose the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust as a charity to support during his expedition, following Dame Ellen MacArthur's similar sailing trip at the age of 18.  Image Credit Marc Turner / EMCT

Timothy Long, 15, is now the youngest skipper to sail solo around Great Britain. Katy Stickland asked him about his …

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Despite a “back problem” that made him wonder if he should give up his circumnavigation and mis-timing a pass past The Lizard, Murdoch said the trip went well.

I didn’t have a fixed, rigid passage plan and did a lot of homework on each section of the trip so I knew what I was getting into. I had nothing set in stone. I’m just letting things unfold for a bit, which is actually a treat, ”he said.

‘The real star of the show is my boat, Artemis. It’s a small boat but a very large performer. I just point at it and it takes me, ”he said.

Artemis, a Hunter Horizon 232 is the second sailboat he owns

Artemis, a Hunter Horizon 232 is the second sailboat he owns. Credit: Murdoch McGregor

He hopes his circumnavigation will inspire others to follow in his wake.

“Nigel started it all on his own, no one else had convinced me to sail. I pass on his advice to others; keep it simple and get yourself a simple boat. ‘

Murdoch has also raised money for charity – over £ 8,000 for Mental Health UK in memory of his younger brother, Jim

Donate to Murdoch’s fundraising appeal for Mental Health UK here

And his next big adventure? “I’ve always wanted to take a ride in the Grand National,” he joked.


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