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Search forSoldier Emma taking to the high seas as part of Arctic expedition
Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 07:30
Emma Kelly will be among the crew of a 67ft sailing yacht on its return voyage to England from the Arctic as part of a Territorial Army exercise.
The 25-year-old lieutenant, of Etwall, said she was looking forward to the challenge.
“When I went out on my first training session for the excursion, I was seasick, so although I'm excited about going I am a little nervous as well,” she said.
“But we have trained medical people on board as well as a skipper and watch leader, so I'm not too worried.
“I believe the two weeks on board will be similar to when you see round-the-world races, with the deck being a hive of activity as people pull ropes, sort out sails and keep the yacht going.”
In total, 82 members of the Royal Signals regiment of the TA will be taking part in the expedition, which will also include military exercises and sea kayaking and mountaineering.
Miss Kelly, who studied law at Staffordshire University, explained that 14 TA members will sail a 67ft Challenger yacht to Greenland in early August. She will be part of a second team of 14 assigned with sailing the yacht back to England. Her part of the expedition begins on August 16.
She said: “We will be setting up a daily blog online from the yacht as well as posting pictures each day so that people can keep track of where we are and how we are doing. I can't wait.”
Miss Kelly, who works as a will-writer at Flint Bishop Solicitors in Derby, said she tried to join the regular Army after finishing school but when she took her medical, they found she had a heart murmur and she would not be able to join.
She said: “By the time they realised I was fine and that it was only a blip, I had already enrolled on my law course at university, so I kept involved with the Army through the TA.
“Now I am a lieutenant and troop commander in Nottingham, looking after a section of men and women.
“I first got interested in the Army when I joined the cadets in Etwall as a teenager.
“I've been on exercises in places such as Canada and the Pyrenees but I have never been to Greenland before and I think it will be an amazing opportunity.”
The 82 members of the Royal Signals regiment of the TA will be undertaking a variety of exercises while in the Arctic, including sea kayaking and mountaineering, as well as sailing.
The Army says this is the largest expedition into Greenland since 1875. That time, the Nares Expedition saw 138 officers and crew leave Portsmouth in an attempt to reach the North Pole.
They failed, turning back before lives were lost in the sub-zero temperatures.
For more information about the TA's Greenland trip, visit www.midnight-sun.org.uk.
SEA ADVENTURE: Territorial Army lieutenant Emma Kelly is joining an expedition to Greenland in which she will help to crew a sailing yacht on its return voyage to England.
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