Polar explorer looks to seas for next challenge

An explorer, has said that “60 is the new 40”, but admitted he has had to turn from peaks and poles to sailing the Atlantic.

David Hempleman-adams, the first person to climb the highest peaks in all seven continents – as well as reach both the geographic and magnetic North and South Poles – told The Daily Telegraph that he struggles to lead polar expeditions nowadays as he cannot keep pace.

However, the “novice sailor” has instead set his sights on sailing the Atlantic single-handedly next year.

“I have got to that magic age where it is getting harder to climb and pull sledges so I’ve been sailing a lot. Really, it’s a race against time – can you treat an old dog new tricks? But I really believe 60 is the new 40.”

The 61-year-old also said that parents who “wrap their children in cotton wool” are raising a risk-averse generation ill-equipped for the world of business.

“People more and more want instant success and aren’t willing to put in the hard graft,” he said. “I think that the younger generation are not willing to push that extra bit.”

Speaking yesterday ahead of his talk at Henley Literary Festival to promote his new book Open Water, Breaking Ice, the explorer encouraged people to embrace their own challenges. “Everest could mean climbing Snowdon or the stairs, it’s just pushing yourself that a bit extra.”