It takes two
Paul (60) and Dawn (55) Widdowson are from the Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland. While both are experienced sailors (they own a Whiting 45), a bluewater passage was uncharted territory. They wanted to change that – and address other Bucket List items flitting through their dreams.
“I’d just turned 60 and felt the milestone deserved a decent reward,” says Paul. “We both wanted to cross the equator under sail – and voyage into the Southern Ocean. Joining the Clipper Race seemed a good way to tick these boxes. It would also see us celebrate our wedding anniversary at sea – albeit on different boats.”
“We originally discussed doing maybe two or three of the eight legs,” adds Dawn, “but then Paul came home one day and said why don’t we just do the whole lot? I said sweet, fine, let’s do it – I mean it is his 60th, isn’t it? So we decided to
