Accu celebrates around-the-world sailing success

Precision engineering component company Accu is celebrating the success of sailor Adam Waugh, who recently completed a 28,000 nautical-mile journey across some of the world’s most formidable oceans in a 19ft yacht he built in his garden shed. Every nut, bolt and screw holding the yacht Little Wren together was supplied by Accu, whose high-performance components are trusted by engineers, innovators and manufacturers around the world.

Mr Waugh, from Northumberland, chose to sail the yacht around the world in the inaugural Mini Globe Race to raise funds for Huddersfield-based charity Ella Dawson Foundation, a charity which provides much-needed mental, physical, and wellbeing support to young adults living with and beyond cancer. Mr Waugh successfully raised £60,000 for the charity.

The Mini Globe Race is a solo, around-the-world sailing challenge that takes place over 14 months. Competitors sail in 19-foot Class Globe 5.80 yachts using traditional seamanship and navigation skills. The race tests endurance, skill, and resilience, taking sailors through some of the world’s most remote and challenging waters.

As Mr Waugh’s official engineering components partner, Accu supported both an extraordinary human achievement and a charity whose mission is to help young adults live well and feel well through and beyond cancer. A retired stockbroker, he only began sailing in 2017 and with no prior boatbuilding experience, he built Little Wren from plans he purchased for just £300.

Steep learning curve
Almost every step of the build was a steep learning curve. He spent as much time behind a computer screen, studying other builders’ blogs, speaking to experienced boatbuilders, and researching construction techniques as he did physically building the yacht.

The build spanned two years, often through long, cold nights, before the boat was launched from Amble Marina, Northumberland, in March 2024. Following successful sea trials in the UK, Little Wren was transported to Portugal, where in December 2024, Mr Waugh set sail on his Mini Globe Race challenge. Mr Waugh chose Accu because of its reputation as a world-renowned reliable supplier of high-quality, precision engineering components, including A4 Marine Grade Stainless steel screws, nuts, bolts and washers.

Matt Ogden, Accu’s communications and partnerships manager, said: “This really was a great opportunity for us to combine our passion for supporting incredible causes and phenomenal engineering feats. I am so pleased we were able to not only raise funds for the Ella Dawson Foundation but to be able to see our components used by Adam to build and sail Little Wren in the Mini Globe Race Challenge. Truly, it is a testament to his determination and willpower and we’re delighted that our marine-grade fasteners played a part in ensuring Adam’s sail boat met the rigorous demands of the competition – and the seas.”

You can learn more about Adam Waugh’s journey by visiting the websitehere.