An amateur sailor is putting his lockdown downtime to good used by building a boat he plans to sail solo across the Atlantic, as RTÉ News reports.

Inspired by a worldwide ‘build at home’ challenge, 57-year-old Jim Schofield started work last year assembling his ClassGlobe 5.80 wooden yacht in the hopes of crossing an item off his bucket list.

That will be racing a number of other home builders along a 3,600-mile transatlantic route later this year, restrictions allowing.

“In many ways, it's the perfect pandemic project,” said the Blessington, Co Wicklow-based Schofield. “I’m locked in the shed, building a boat by myself. And when the time comes, I will get on the boat and sail away by myself.”

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.