Former IBF middleweight world champion Darren Barker will complete The Longest Round on Monday, September 14, with a solo sailing mission on the anniversary of Ricky Hatton’s death.
Barker will be crossing the Strait of Gibraltar on Monday to bring an end to his epic 1800-mile journey from Edinburgh to Morocco – undertaken in memory of his friend and fellow world champion, and to raise money for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
Barker interviewed boxing great Hatton just five days before his death. The experience inspired him to undertake The Longest Round and encourage more people to speak openly when they are struggling with their mental health.
Speaking on World Suicide Prevention Day today, Barker said: “It’s incredible. It’s dawned on me it will be one year since Ricky’s passing. It is meant to be right, how this has all worked out.”
Having cycled from Edinburgh to Dover, before swimming for 21 miles in the sea, Barker will touch base in Gibraltar tomorrow after a mammoth cycle from Calais. He will make the final crossing to Morocco by sailing on his own after permission could not be secured for the planned swim across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Barker, with the help of sponsor Pretty Sailing – a sailing school based in Gibraltar – will be taught how to sail a yacht in just one day on Sunday before making the solo trip on Monday, and he compared himself to Only Fools and Horses character Del Boy for his daring adventure.
He said: “On Sunday, Pretty Sailing will teach me how to sail a yacht, a proper sailboat, to Ceuta. It’s about three to three-and-a-half hours. I will be on the boat solo. I will actually swim to the boat, so I will do a little bit of swimming. They will anchor it out slightly, and then I’ll swim to the boat, and then I’ll be on the boat on my own after a day’s training and sail to Ceuta.
“When I get to Ceuta, I will have my bike on the boat. I will take my bike off and I will cycle into Morocco. I am disappointed because the majority of my training for this has been swimming.
“But it is what it is – we can’t sulk, we can’t moan, we’ve got to get it done. I’ve said we’d get to Morocco, I will get there. We are just getting there ever so slightly differently. It is probably more dangerous me trying to sail a yacht than it is me swimming to be honest.”
On supporting Barker’s challenge, Nick Pretty – a former Royal Navy sailor who is now the chief instructor and principal of Pretty Sailing said: “We want to give Darren all the support we can to get him across the Strait, which is a huge accomplishment in itself. We’re offering Darren one day’s training to sail a 37ft yacht solo across the Strait, fully supported by us in an identical yacht alongside our media/safety boat throughout.
“The yacht will be at anchor; Darren will swim out to it from the shore start, lift the anchor, hoist the sail, and sail for around three-and-a-half hours to the African continent, then moor the yacht himself to complete his epic challenge.”
Although Barker will reach Morocco on Monday, the campaign to raise money and awareness for CALM will continue beyond the finish line.
Supporters can donate to The Longest Round Here
If you or someone you know is struggling, visit the calmzone.net for information and support.
