The return of the Portugese

We recount the story of struggling Portugese solo sailor Ricardo Diniz who will set out across the Atlantic on his Mini in October

All pictures courtesy of Claudia Silva Once upon a time, Portugal was the richest, most powerful country in the world. Portugese sailors were simple, yet incredibly brave men that conquered the secrets of the 'flat earth' and the stars, leading them to new lands as far as Brazil, India and China. In fact the first circumnavigation was carried out by the Portuguese, with Ferdinand Magellan at the helm, almost 500 years ago. From a straight in South America to a variety of high tech and navigation firms, not to mention a Finot Open 50 (Mike Garside's Magellan Alpha), the name Magellan still lives strong.

So why is it that young Portuguese sailor Ricardo Diniz, 24, has had so much difficulty in moving his country's businesses to back his ventures of re-discovery? Although brought up by the sea in a small fishing village, there was no sailing tradition in Ricardo's family and no financial means to join the closed circle of elite yacht clubs.

It all started when aged eight he saw Sir Francis Chichester's Gypsy Moth in Greenwich. He had never sailed before but was amazed to learn that the boat had been sailed all the way around the world by one man. "I really had no idea what that meant in terms of scale and geography, but the idea of being at sea alone for so long was very appealing, and I told my father there and then that one day I would do the same."

Diniz went on to read everything he could find on the subject and offered himself as volunteer crew in many races. These led to deliveries and other races. By 16 he had logged some 15,000 miles. But nobody took him seriously in Portugal. His dream was considered too ambitious and unattainable. So he changed country.

Moving to Southampton aged 17 was a carefully studied tactical decision. "Being the great sailing capital it is, if things were going to happen, they would certainly happen in Southampton," he says. As a full time degree student in Marine Environmental Science he would cycle down to Ocean Village every day, to learn, to meet, to network. He completed his Commercial Yachtmaster with John Goode and sailed on everything from Hunter 707s to the 80ft maxi Creightons Naturally.

Ricardo's first serious attempt at his dream came when he met with the shore crew of Samantha Brewster while she was sailing around the world alone. Project Manager and watch leader on Heath Insured in the British Steel 1992 Race, Ken Pearson, saw in Ricardo a rare combination of enthusiasm and determination and decided to help him achieve his goal. And things began to happen: "We need a boat, we need a sponsor. And I wanted a Challenge Yacht. Chay (Blyth) was always too busy to see me so I just showed up at his door step in Cornwall and said I wouldn't leave until he sat down with me for five minutes." Chay finally agreed and five minutes later Ricardo had his yacht, all 67ft of it!

"By the time I got back to Southampton I was down to my last 5 pounds. But that was ok. I had to find a million now!"