A FORMER York rugby league favourite is preparing to tackle the world’s most dangerous oceans on an epic 11-month journey circumnavigating the globe – all for charity.

Craig Forsyth, of Heworth, who played for York City Knights, is to take part in the 2013/14 around-the-world Clipper Yacht Race to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.

Mr Forsyth, 42, said: “It’s going to be a great experience, but a difficult one.

“Once you’re on the boat there’s no turning back. I’m massively excited. It’s the chance of a lifetime, joining an elite group of people who have done it.”

The Clipper Race, held every two years, is designed to give people from all walks of life the chance to sail around the world. Mr Forsyth will share a 70ft racing yacht with 19 other crew members, competing against 12 other boats over eight separate legs – amassing 40,000 miles in total.

He was initially planning to join his boat for two legs, but has now successfully applied to complete the entire race.

Starting in the UK in August, they sail across the Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro, and on to Capetown, three ports in Australia, then up to Singapore and China and straight across the Pacific – seeing no land for four-and-a-half weeks – to San Francisco.

They then go to Panama, along the Panama Canal and through the Caribbean to Mexico, and on to New York. The 18-day “homecoming” leg takes the crew north to Canada before more transatlantic miles to Europe, landing back in the UK in July, 2014.

Mr Forsyth, a bricklayer by trade, has not done much sailing before but will complete three week-long courses to prove he is up to the task.

He will foot the bill himself, aided by sponsors, and stresses “all money donated to charity will go to charity”.

He said: “It’s billed as a race for everyday people and it will challenge each individual in different ways.

“I’m not great with people I don’t know sometimes, but if you’re stuck on a boat with them, you can’t just decide you’ve had enough and get off. I hope the skills I’ve learned from playing a team sport will help.

“There’s also that competitive edge and I’ll work hard to win. There will be elements of danger, but that excites me.

“It will also raise money for the two worthwhile charities.”

For information on sponsorship opportunities or to donate to the charities, visit clippercraig.co.uk/ or facebook.com/pages/Clipper-Craig-13-14/396173427143120 or phone Mr Forsyth on 07808 473195.