Meet Eric Froggatt, an adventurous spirit and proud member of the Monmouth Rowing Club. While many know him for his dedication to rowing and running our Regatta and Heads, Eric’s other claim to fame is something far more extraordinary—he’s sailed around the world. From navigating stormy seas to exploring hidden islands, Eric’s global journey is a testament to his resilience, passion for the ocean, and love of adventure. In this blog, we dive into the story of his remarkable voyage, the challenges he faced, and how his time with Monmouth Rowing Club prepared him for the adventure of a lifetime.
Firstly, a huge thank you to Eric for his inspiring talk last week chronicling his round the world Clipper sailing race which started in September 2023 and ended in July 2024. The Clipper Race is one of the biggest challenges of the natural world and an endurance test like no other. With no previous sailing experience necessary, it’s a record-breaking 45,000 nautical mile race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht. There are eight legs which comprises 14 races. Not all crew members sail the entire course meaning mixed crews and cultures between different legs.
The packed clubhouse heard how Eric first got the bug to go all in to circumnavigate the world after he sailed one of the legs in 2017/18. Seven years later his dream came true and to top the experience his crew Ha Long Bay won the race! Eric gave us his personal insight into what he believed were the contributing factors and the key learnings that can relate to rowing too. All 11 competing boats have the same boat spec, crews with similar sailing experience and across a diverse range of ages and fitness levels. “Focussing on culture and team work was key and any negativity had to be addressed quickly. One negative person’s attitude ripples through the rest of the crew in no time and that’s damaging. We all appreciated some were scared, others doubted themselves but we worked hard to navigate rough seas with a positive can-do attitude and a determination to do our best for ourselves, our fellow crew members and our leader. Our first few legs were not great, our placings were low but we hung in there and ultimately won the overall race in the end,” said Eric.
Other factors included making sure the boat and the equipment were well-maintained at all times and giving crew members regular rests. Critically the team dealt with day to day operations so that the Skipper could do what he needed to do. “We never bothered him with the small stuff so he could focus on the big stuff”. Having sailed the world Eric was keen to confirm the world is indeed round (!) and thanked his wife Lisa (also an MRC rower) for all her support.
Eric wanted to use this talk as an opportunity to raise money for our charity of the year, Alzheimers UK. Attendees generously raised £327 so our thanks go to them too.
Comments