A life on the ocean wave (From Penarth Times)

A life on the ocean wave

A PENARTH man will brave the Atlantic Ocean this weekend on a 20-day crossing as a crew member in the Global Challenge Around the World Yacht Race.

David Smart, 49, berthing master at Penarth Marina, is part of a 17-man crew on board one of the 12 70ft racing yachts.

The crew members come from all walks of life, and the Samsung - named after its chief sponsor - leaves Boston this Sunday to complete a 3,500 mile voyage to France.

David said he is fulfilling a lifetime's ambition of crossing the Atlantic by boat.

He said: "I'm inspired by anyone who has taken on the Southern Ocean, because it scares the life out of me."

He said he was feeling apprehensive but excited about the prospect of the voyage.

He will be a'legger' crew member as he will be on board for the leg from Boston to La Rochelle in France, and the final sprint from La Rochelle to Portsmouth.

His on-board tasks include'mother watch' - taking his turn at cooking and cleaning, as well as trimming, hoisting, changing and repairing the sails, and'helming' or steering the boat.

The race is scheduled to end on July 16 or 17 and some of the crew will have been on board for the whole trip that began last October and will have covered 29,000 miles by the end.

David, who is married to Christine, has 20 years' sailing experience and owns his own boat, a 16-year-old Sadler 29 called Ragamuffin.