Clipper Bursaries go to Atlantic athletes and teen champions

Saturday 05 June 2021

The 15th annual Clipper Bursary has been awarded to a pair of athletes aiming to conquer the Atlantic.

Steve Hayes and Pete Wright were given the £1,000 bursary, to go towards their 3,000-mile journey from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua.

Pictured: The boat Steve and Pete will be making their journey in, as Team Dragonfish.

The award, a legacy from the Island’s three campaigns in the Clipper Round-the-World Race, invited applicants of all ages to apply, with an aim to help islanders achieve particular nautical ambitions.

It was Steve and Pete’s unique venture as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic that took the main award this year - the pair have never rowed before, and are undergoing an intensive and extensive period of training with the Jersey Rowing Club in the lead up to their December 2022 start date.

However, between them, they do have 20 years of athletic experience, having tackled a six-day 250km ultra-marathon through the Amazonian jungle, running the width of England non-stop, a 24-hour non-stop cycle ride and running around all the Channel Islands over three days. 

They are aiming to raise £50,000 during the race for two local charities, Durrell and Macmillan Jersey.

Pictured: Juliette (16) and Russell Walton (14) last year won the Channel Islands Hobie Championships.

“We’re both over the moon to have been awarded the 2021 Jersey Clipper Bursary,” said Steve.

“It’s really appreciated. We’ll put the funds towards the cost of our mooring fees or the updating of essential equipment on the boat.” 

The runner-up award of £500 went to teenage siblings Juliette and Russell Walton, to help them with costs when they represent Jersey in the Hobie MultiEuropean Championships taking place at the end of this month in Sant Pere Pescador in Catalonia, Spain.

Both have a successful background in dinghy and catamaran sailing, and last year won the Channel Islands Hobie Championships.