Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.  I will be competing in this year's Fastnet Race and hopefully raising funds for the NSPCC.

Starting on Sunday 12th August 2007, the Fastnet is recognised as one of the world's most gruelling yacht races. The course of this challenging event covers over 600 miles of non-stop racing over 5 days and nights in open sea conditions. Sleep is limited and, if the weather is poor, conditions on board can be tough.  

We took part in the event in 2005 on a 67' Challenge yacht, this time we will be competing in "Offbeat", a J/109 design, which, at only 35' long and with a crew of 8, will be one of the smaller boats in the 300-strong fleet. We would like to beat our crew fundraising target from last time and also put in a respectable finishing position!

The race starts at Cowes, Isle of Wight, then heads out westwards along the English Channel; we pass Lands End and cross the Irish Sea to round the Fastnet Rock off the south-west tip of Ireland. We then head straight back across the Irish Sea, round the Bishop's Rock Lighthouse in the Scilly Isles and back to the finish in Plymouth.

This year all the boats will be carrying satellite-tracking devices so you will be able to see where we are during the race on the Fastnet website at: http://fastnet.rorc.org/tracking.asp

We also hope to get some form of blog from the boat at periodic intervals at www.j109offbeat.co.uk .

If you are able to contribute, donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: NSPCC will receive your money directly and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor us now!

Many thanks for your support,
David