Conrad Humphreys
Conrad David Humphreys was born in Exmouth, Devon on 13 February 1973. He is a professional sailor and has competed in three round the world races. On 20 February 2005, he became only the 5th British sailor to complete the Vendée Globe. He finished 7th after 104 days at sea in what has been acknowledged as one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of the Vendée Globe race.
Humphreys' professional career in sailing began at 17 years old, when he was spotted at the Junior World Cadet Championships and asked to join the Youth Challenge campaign for the 1993–94 Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race) The change in direction thrust him into the world of extreme ocean racing. His first leadership challenge was as Skipper of LG FLATRON in the gruelling BT Global Challenge 2000-01. Humphreys and his team went on to dominate the race setting a record pace and winning four out of seven legs. At just 26 years of age, Humphreys became the youngest winning skipper in the history of the race.
For Humphreys' third circumnavigation, he decided to take on the Everest of ocean racing, the non-stop, solo round the world race, the 2004-05 Vendée Globe. Humphreys, in his Open 60, HELLOMOTO set out from Les Sables D'Olonne, France in November 2004 with 19 competitors to race non-stop and without assistance around the world. The Vendée Globe is regarded as the pinnacle of ocean racing and an event that is widely regarded as the toughest endurance race in any sport.
Education
Humphreys graduated from Plymouth University in 1998 with a BSc in Ocean Science and Meteorology. Humphreys was also later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Plymouth University in 2005.
Sources
- Morris, Jonathan, A tough life on the ocean waves,, BBC News Online, 28 May 2004
- Yachtsman joins green project, Exmouth Herald, 24 August 2008