A FORMER pub landlord from Weymouth is taking the helm as a skipper in a gruelling round the world yacht race.

Jan Ridd, 46, will lead a boat and crew in the 35,000-mile, Clipper 2009 to 2010 Round the World Yacht Race.

He will be skippering the Canadian entry, Cape Breton Island, in the contest.

Jan used to own the Bar on the Corner in St Thomas Street, in Weymouth town centre, before the call of the sea became too strong to ignore.

He is now based on the stripped-down yacht in Gosport – where he will remain until the start of the race in Hull on September 13.

Jan said: “It’s fantastic news. I’m proud to have been entrusted with the job of taking Cape Breton Island around the world.

“I was supporting Nova Scotia on the last Clipper Race, so this is a dream come true.

“And I can’t wait to sail into Sydney next June – I’ve heard from a lot of people how great it is.”

The Cape Breton Island, one of 10 internationally-sponsored entries in the Clipper Race, features the island emblem of an eagle on its hull.

The island the boat is named after will host a stopover in June, 2010.

Jan said he is ‘entering to win’ but crew enjoyment is of equal importance.

He said: “I understand that the crew dynamic is the key ingredient to success and the biggest achievement for me would be bringing back a crew who say, ‘That’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.’”

Jan worked as a photographer before retraining as a chef and then running his own business as a pub landlord in Weymouth.

A talented surfer, Jan has lived or worked around the water all his life but only discovered sailing after taking a theory course to prepare him for running a fishing boat.

He was instantly hooked and has made sailing his full time career, training crews for Clipper 09-10 and the last two editions of the race.

“I love the training aspect of the race and seeing the progression of the crew.

“I think taking a novice crew around the world will enable me to witness an amazing transformation within them.”

During the race the fleet will stop at 14 ports around the world before arriving back in the Humber in July 2010.