An adventurous 20-year-old Monmouth man will be wearing his old school blazer with pride as he prepares for one of the world’s toughest challenges next month.

Former student at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools, Angus Whitehead, will be sailing around the world in the Clipper Race.

Angus has been chosen as one of just 11 professional sailors to circumnavigate the globe in the Clipper Race, which gets under way in Portsmouth on Sunday 3rd September.

Angus, who left Monmouth School for Boys after his A levels in 2021, is an AQP (Additional Qualified Person), also known as a First Mate, for the 40,000nm competition.

“Angus will be taking his old chocolate school blazer as his smart wear, so he will be representing Monmouth with pride,” said Angus’ proud mum, Angela Whitehead.

“The Clipper Race is an incredible achievement for Angus because his role comes with a huge amount of responsibility – and it’s easy to forget that he’s still only 20 years old.”

Headmaster at Monmouth School for Boys, Mr Simon Dorman, says the Old Monmothian has leadership qualities and sailing experience far beyond his years.

Angus, a keen rower at school, first started sailing at the age of 13 and has achieved more than 12,000 nautical miles.

Over the past year, Angus has sailed more than 3,000 miles as a lead skipper of a flotilla in Greece and Croatia.

Additionally, he captained the Friendship Rose, a 75-foot traditionally-built Caribbean Schooner, in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Outside of sailing, Angus is a keen pilot, who flies powered and non-powered aircraft. At the age of 16, Angus graduated from the Air Cadet Leadership Course at RAF Cranwell with Merit.

Angus and his fellow First Mates are now preparing for the big race and there will be events to mark its launch in Portsmouth from 30th August to 3rd September, the start date.

This is only the second time that Portsmouth has featured on the Clipper Race route and it is set to host the biggest launch in the race’s history, with a fun-packed festival programme of music, food, community and other activities at Gunwharf Quays Marina.

Mrs Angela Whitehead: said: “Angus was selected from a pool of more than 300 sailors and, as a family, we are bursting with pride. Angus is an amazing young man – and we know that he will have an amazing experience in the Clipper Race.”