Mundesley sailor reunited with his twin brother for first time in 18 years on Australian leg of round the world yacht challenge
David Greer's round the world yacht race. Reunited with twin brother Alan, right, for the first time in 18 years on landing in Fremantle. Picture: Claire Greer - Credit: Archant
An intrepid brain injury survivor was reunited with his twin brother for the first time in 18 years, while on the Clipper Round the World Yacht challenge.
David Greer's round the world yacht race. Meeting family members in Fremantle. Pictures: Claire Greer - Credit: Archant
David Greer, 65, from Mundesley, met his brother Alan on landing in Fremantle, Australia, on the third leg of the tour, a gruelling 4,800 nautical mile race from Cape Town to Western Australia.
Mr Greer, who survived a brain injury in 2012 which left him unable to walk, had not seen his twin since their father's funeral in 1999.
He was also greeted by 10 other family members, spanning three generations, all of them waiting into the early hours of the morning to greet him. One of them, his great-niece Sophie Greer, nine, is also a brain injury survivor.
He said: 'The highlights for me on this leg were our team PSP Logistics making the podium for the second time in three races and being greeted by my twin brother and other family members.'
The event is an 11-month sailing challenge, which is made up of 13 races over eight legs covering 40,000 nautical miles. It is a race, aimed at amateurs, between 12 identical 70-foot ocean racing yachts.
During leg three one boat, Greenings, ran aground, but the saddest event was a fatality suffered on Great Britain and a subsequent sea burial of one of the Clipper crew.
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Mr Greer said: 'It was a very tough race with some very sad outcomes which united the whole Clipper fleet. There were times when I wondered if entering the race was my brightest idea and I was ready to leave at the next port.
'However this was balanced by exhilarating sailing and some fantastic sights including dolphins, whales, porpoises and albatrosses. We witnessed the most magnificent sunrises, sunsets and stunning night skies.
'As a team, we set out with no rest due to having collided with a whale on the previous leg. We also set out with a new skipper as our skipper resigned.
'With a few hours to go we were in fifth place but we crossed the line in third place beating our nearest rival by seven minutes.'
