AN GRANDMOTHER-of-ten is currently proving that age is no barrier to taking on daring challenges...by sailing from Australia to China in an international yacht race.

Ann Adams, 71, who has lived in Benfleet all her life, is taking part in the Clipper Race Asian Pacific Challenge and set off from Airlie Beach in Queensland, Australia on Tuesday , bound for her next stop in Da Nang in Vietnam on February 27.

She will then head for her final stop, which will be at Qingdao in China sometime between March 10 and 13 after completing 4,310 nautical miles.

The Clipper Race is one of the toughest challenges and is an around the world sailing race with eight legs or journeys, 16 individual races and covers 40,000 miles across the world’s oceans.

On the day of the Clipper 2015/16 race start in Southend, Ann couldn’t resist going to see it where she met Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the Clipper Race founder and was inspired to take up the challenge.

Their chat resulted in her joining the IchorCoal team to race in the Asian-Pacific Challenge Leg...

She recalled: “When the race started, I said to Sir Robin ‘I’m 70 years old. What are the chances of me taking part in this race on one of your beautiful boats?’ “He said ‘All you need is energy, enthusiasm, character and a letter from your doctor!’”

She did her training at Gosport in Hampshire and signed up for the Australia to China leg, race seven, in September She said: “I spent a week looking it up. When I told my family, my daughter said she thought it was ridiculous but my sons thought it was great.”

Ann said she chose the Asian Pacific Challenge leg because she likes a challenge and wanted to experience all weather systems. She said: “I’m not just a fair weather sailor. I don’t care what boat I’m on, just as long as I’m on a boat.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Australia although I have been to China and India.

“That was the beginning really, and now I’m sailing from Australia to Asia. I’ve shocked myself really. I’m amazed at my own stamina.

“I think the adrenaline gives you strength and we are all in the same boat, as the saying goes.”

She also told the Echo how she soon got addicted to sailing.

She said: “I started sailing in 2000 through a charity event and I was hooked and soon joined the Benfleet Yacht Club.

“When the Clipper Race fleet sailed past last August, I didn’t go because I knew I’d be tempted to sail away with them, but that’s what happened!

“At the start of the race as the fleet appeared my heart started thumping and I really wished I was on board one of those boats.”

Her leg of the around-the-world race will see her heading north via the Northern Territories before crossing the equator for the second time en route to Vietnam.

Here, vessels will take advantage of the north east monsoon winds as they head towards Da Nang where a series of events and festivals are planned.