Race to meet relatives

Clipper challenge: North-east woman discovers sailing runs in the family

A north-east woman celebrated completing one of the biggest sailing challenges in the world by meeting distant relatives for the first time in America.

Sarah Addison sailed from Seattle down to the Panama Canal then up to New York to finish in fifth place in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The event is made up of eight legs and pits amateur sailors against the ocean.

The 32-year-old has now met distant relatives after learning of the sporting achievements of other family members for the first time last year.

Ms Addison, of Cullen, said: “It was only a year or so ago my uncle told me he had been doing a bit of digging into our family tree.

“He discovered that my great-great-grandmother’s brother, Willie Buchan, along with his brothers had left Peterhead in the 1920s for America, eventually settling in Seattle and becoming involved in the fishing and boat building industries.

“He discovered Willie Buchan’s grandson Bill and his son Carl both won Olympic gold medals in sailing at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, Bill in the Star class and Carl in the Flying Dutchman class.

“Even more bizarre for me is that my cousin Luke Patience from Aberdeen, also won a silver medal in sailing at the London Olympic Games in 2012, NEVER MISS IMPORTANT NEWS / NEVER MISS A COMPETITION / NO NEED TO GO OUT IN BAD WEATHER / EASY PAYMENT METHODS and it was around that time my uncle found out about our Seattle family.”

Ms Addison, who works as a process engineer, met up with Mr Buchan to discuss their family history.

She said: “We hadn’t met before but it really does feel like they are family. They have been so enthusiastic and supportive when it comes to the Clipper Race.”

During the race Ms Addison’s grandmother, Nan Patience, from Buckie, sadly passed away.

However, she was able to speak with her on a video call before she died.

She said: “The sailing achievements of her grandchildren are now part of her north-east fishing family legacy.”

MADE IT: Sarah Addison with her clipper race crewmates, who finished fifth in one of world’s biggest sailing challenges