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I am planning to take part in the Fastnet Race which starts on the 14th August 2011. The Fastnet race is a biannual race for sailing yachts that starts at Cowes in the Isle of Wight, passes westward down the English Channel and then around a small rock (the Fastnet Rock) off the south west corner of Ireland. The race then continues back eastwards, passing south of the Isles of Sicilly before finishing in Plymouth in Devon. The course is 608 miles but the boats competing will travel much further than this as some of the race will probably be directly into the wind. The yacht that I am sailing on is one of the smallest boats entered at 34 feet (10.4m). I expect to average about 6 knots (7mph) and so the race will take at least 100 hours and probably more.

The Fastnet is considered to be one of the more challenging offshore races in the most challenging sport in the world. In the 1979 race fifteen sailors were drowned when a storm hit the fleet. To qualify eacht yacht and crew need to compete in 300miles of racing this season.  We have not yet done enough miles to qualify but should achieve this target by the end of July.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1984 which means that I have to inject insulin several times each day. Insulins that were available when I was first diagnosed meant that I had to eat regularly at the same time every day, something that just isn't possible on a racing yacht. Recent developments in insulin treatment, which have been funded to some extent by donations to Diabetes UK, enable me to be more flexible in my meal times and has allowed to me to engage in my favorite sport again. Sailing for a diabetic is not without its complications however. Can you imagine finding somewhere to do an injection when wearing a lifejacket, oilskins and several layers of clothing on board a sailing boat that is heeling at 30 degrees and being tossed around by the sea?

16 July. Competed in the 170 mile Cowes to St Malo race last weekend. We have now completed more than the 300 miles needed to qualify and our enty has been accepted.

I would like to use this race as a means of raising money for Diabetes UK to enable it to continue funding diabetes research. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

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