LAUNCESTON’S Andrew Wheatley has received a true West Country welcome on his return from a grueling 5,000 nautical mile sail from London to Rio de Janiero as part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2015.

At a fundraising homecoming lunch, Dame Ellen MacAthur and Sir Ben Ainslie sent personal congratulatory messages for his achievement in the race and for raising so far, more than £2,000 for CHICKS, the charity that provides holidays in Cornwall, Devon and Derbyshire for disadvantaged children from throughout the UK.

Colleagues at the Ambrosia factory in Lifton, where Andrew works as Finance Manager, tucked in to Warrens pasties and homemade puddings and Ambrosia custard to celebrate Andrew’s challenging thirty days of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. The Clipper Race, described as ‘an endurance test like no other’, involves crossing some of the most ferocious seas in a 70 foot yacht.

Andrew, who had never sailed before taking on the challenge, said: “The race was a culmination of two years of preparation and it was a fantastic adventure. It delivered two of my lifetime goals of sailing across the Atlantic and the Equator. The fact that I could use my jaunt to raise money for my favourite charity CHICKS was a real bonus for me.”

Steve Pretty, Factory General Manager of Ambrosia, said: “This was an amazing achievement and the Ambrosia team were very proud to welcome Andrew home. This was another fund raising activity by Andrew for CHICKS but certainly the most extreme!”

Ian Warren, of Philip Warrens Butchers of Launceston, said he was delighted to provide pasties for the lunch.

He said: “When I heard that pasty loving Andrew had sailed across the Atlantic for CHICKS, often living on rehydrated food, we wanted to make sure that he and his colleagues could enjoy some pasties on his return.

“Andrew has completed an incredible task and we congratulate him on his achievement and for raising money for such a fantastic local charity.”

Those who wish to support CHICKS can do so at https://chicks.everydayhero.com/uk/andrew