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The Legenderrys



Director/Producer: Margo Harkin
Executive Producers: Paul McGuigan for BBC Northern Ireland and Ailson Millar for Erica Starling Productions
Co Production: Besom Productions Ltd & Erica Starling Productions
Broadcaster: BBCNI - Broadcast Episode 1 on 17 June 2013 at 10.45pm. Broadcast Episode 2 on 24th June 2013 at 10.35pm. Broadcast Episode 3 on 1 July 2013 at 10.35pm.



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A 3 x 30' documentary series for BBC Northern Ireland on the Derry~Londonderry boat in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race through the eyes of three unemployed Derry City Council Bursary winners.

Programme 1:
Credits: Series Producer Margo Harkin, Editors Claire O'Neill & Michael Crilly. Broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland on 17 June 2013 at 10.45pm.
Logline: Shy, Derry City Council Bursary Winner, Niall Boyle, faces tropical heat and cramped living conditions when thrown in at the deep end with 16 total strangers on the first leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from Southampton to Rio de Janeiro.

Programme 2:
Credits: Series Producer Margo Harkin, Boat Cameraman Sam Evans, Editor Greg Darby. Broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland on 24 June 2013 at 10.35pm.
Logline: Can 22 year old, unemployed Bursary Winner Shauna O'Neill overcome her personal fears as she helps crew the tiny Derry ~ Londonderry boat in Leg 2 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race race from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town?

Programme 3:
Credits: Series Producer Margo Harkin, Director Belinda Kirk, Editors Greg Derby, Claire O'Neill & Helen Sheridan. Broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland on 1 July 2013 at 10.35pm.
Logline: Crippled by seasickness and becalmed waters can unemployed schoolteacher Pod McConway help secure victory for the 'Legenderrys' in the emotional homecoming race to Derry~Londonderry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race?



Synopsis



In the lead up to City of Culture in 2013 Derry City Council sponsored a yacht named 'The Derry~Londonderry' in the Clipper Round the World Yacht race, the longest ocean challenge in the world. Starting out from Southampton - and lasting over a year - the tiny 68' vessel circumnavigated the globe in a race against nine other boats from countries as far afield as Australia and China.

On board were Niall Boyle, Shauna O'Neill and Pod McConway, three unemployed young people from the city, who were given the chance of a lifetime when Derry City Council hosted their participation in the race through a Bursary scheme initiated by race founder Sir Robin Knox Johnston. A TV film crew followed them over three different legs as each joined the 18-strong crew enduring the highs and lows with extreme temperatures, relentless seas and the tedium of the doldrums as they battled for a place on the coveted winners' podium.

The result is a fascinating three-part series The Legenderrys made for BBC Northern Ireland by Besom Productions Ltd. Margo Harkin, Producer/Director: "I am in awe of what all the crew and especially the young people achieved in the race. Our cameras saw the hard slog and endurance required day in day out to achieve their goals - often in very dangerous conditions. Niall, Shauna and Pod are truly inspirational and I think their story will be a real eye opener for people."

Programme one shows shy 23-year-old Niall Boyle as he joins a team of 17 total strangers in sweaty, cramped living conditions to complete Leg One of the race from Madeira to Rio de Janeiro. They cross the Equator and enter the perils of the doldrums as they battle it out with nine other boats in the race to the finish.

Twenty-two-year-old Shauna O'Neill has already met many challenges in her young life. In programme two she faces her fears head on in the race from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town as she helms the tiny vessel in giant 30 foot swells and learns how to cook for 15 fellow crew members.

In the third and final programme Pod (Padraig) McConway and the crew complete Leg Eight which started in New York. The programme joins him in the emotional homecoming race from the stopover in Nova Scotia to Derry-Londonderry. They will have to cross the Atlantic Ocean - one of the roughest and most unpredictable seas in the world - and have the added pressure of needing to finish well into their home port.

The Legenderrys is a Besom Production for BBC Northern Ireland with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen Lottery Fund and the ERDF.



Domestic viewing copies available on DVD for £17 (inclusive of VAT) plus postage and packing. For Institutional rates or teaching purposes, please contact Margo at margo@besomproductions.co.uk