Raise the ales! Yachtsman has a local pint in every port
MANY a quick trip to the pub has turned into a marathon pub crawl, but few involve a round-britain voyage.
Andy Marshall, 58, took a “gap year” from his job in IT and had a beer in every port during his 1,930-mile trip around the country’s coastline. The solo yachtsman braved bitter winds and choppy seas on the six-month trip.
He said: “I’m a real ale fan, so wherever I tied up I had a pint or two of the local beer. It was a big part of the trip and something to look forward to at the end of each leg of the voyage. It must be the longest pub crawl ever – it was certainly the wettest.”
Mr Marshall, a father of two, added: “I didn’t plan to sail right around Britain, but I headed west and decided to keep going. I stopped off for fuel, food and a few beers on the way – it was a great experience. Calling in for a pint at marinas and ports was a great way to meet the locals.”
His adventure saw him hop from port to port and if a storm was brewing he would stick around for a day or two.
Mr Marshall said the best pint of his voyage was St Austell’s Tribute, a Cornish pale ale, served at the Golden Lion in Padstow, north Cornwall.
He arrived back in Emsworth just in time for last orders at the yacht club.