Welcome to my ‘Just Giving’ page. Most of you will already know me and others may not so I would briefly like to say a little about myself and the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) for whom I am raising funds.

My first taste of sailing was a day out at Thames Young Mariners during a scout trip where we could try sailing and canoeing. I was about 13 years old and clearly remember the excitement and fun I had all day. It was my turn to take the helm and the more the wind picked up the more the boat leant over, until the inevitable happened and an instructor and 3 boys were in the water. I was laughing and smiling and from that day on I wanted to sail but it took nearly 40 years before I got in to another sailing dinghy.

I am now in my mid-50s and have been sailing my little dinghy on the tidal Thames with Strand-on-the-Green Sailing Club at Kew for the past 5 years or so. Each time I go out I experience myriad emotions ranging from outright fear (in blowy conditions) to frustration (in drifty conditions) but I love each time, it feeds me and I grow a little more with every outing.

I strongly believe sailing can enhance or change people’s life paths or beliefs of themselves. It is for these reasons I have signed up to take part in an offshore campaign culminating with the world-renowned Fastnet Race on their Farr 65, Albatross 2.

This legendary race starting at Cowes and finishing at Plymouth with the turning point around the Fastnet Rock off the southern coast of Ireland takes approximately 5 days and is a challenge for boat and crew alike. It will be a massive challenge for me, pushing my abilities and fears well outside their comfort zone and that is without knowing what the weather will throw at us. I am both excited and more than a little scared.

UKSA is a youth charity aiming to bring sailing to as many schools, organisations and individuals as possible from as many different backgrounds as possible, working with inner city and deprived children as well as disabled youths. The experiences and personal qualities derived from sailing can enhance their lives and future prospects in many ways. By sailing in a solo dinghy one learns to take responsibility for and confidence in self, by being part of a dinghy or even big boat crew one learns to work in and as part of a team. These are skills which are life enhancing, and with the training and experiences offered by UKSA, unforeseen pathways and opportunities can emerge.

For more about UKSA please see below, visit their website at www.uksa.org or search for them on Youtube.

Many thanks

Ian