Tom Rickard will tack, jibe and hoist sails in the world's largest international sailing event, The Tall Ships' Race, which features a fleet of about 100 tall ships from around the world.

Rickard, formerly of Cape Girardeau, won a spot on the crew by writing an essay about his love of adventure.

Rickard, who lives in Friendswood, Texas, is one of eight Americans selected to serve on the crew. They will set sail in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 18 and will arrive in Bremerhaven, Germany, on July 23.

The U.S. crew will board one of the tallest ships in the world; the three-mast, 121-meter Dar Mlodziezy.

Rickard learned about the contest reading a sailing column in his local newspaper.

He didn't really think he would win but decided to put together an essay anyway.

"I approached it like I was going for a job interview. What are they looking for, and what have I got," he explained.

The race is designed to promote international goodwill and understanding. Winning is secondary.

He wrote: "Adventures such as sailing on the schooner and hosting exchange students help to get me out of my work mode and provide variety and growth."

The judges liked what they read.

The eight winners were chosen based on their desire for adventure, not their sailing experience.

Good thing. Rickard's sailing experience is limited to reading newspapers columns about sailing and a family vacation aboard a schooner traveling the coast of Maine. It had a crew.

This time, Rickard is one of the 10-member crew.

"They will say `Here's a mop. Here's the deck. What part don't you understand?'" Rickard said.

He leaves Texas for New York on Thursday. A series of photo sessions are planned prior to the race.

Cutty Sark Scots Whisky, which underwrites the race, also provides a whole wardrobe of embroidered hats, shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts and rain slickers for the crew.

This is the first year the United States has entered the Tall Ships' Race.

Rickard is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rickard of Cape Girardeau. A graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School and a 1981 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, he lives in Texas with his wife, Sue, and their two sons, Mathew and Alex. He is regional sales manager of the Lockring Fitting Co.

Organized by the Sail Training Association and Cutty Sark Scots Whisky, the 39-year-old race enables thousands of men and women of all ages and nationalities to sail and race together.