News updates:

Back on dry land at last!

The trip was a fantastic experience.  It was at least as hard as I had feared, cramped, uncomfortable, cold and wet.  And strangely wonderful!  Our boat Alba Explorer won the race by a whisker after a mad 11 knot dash towards the Clyde estuary at 4am on Saturday morning.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the fundraising for the event. Having spent 9 days with staff, volunteers and young people from the Ocean Youth Trust I can assure you the money you donated is going directly to a truly worthwhile cause.  If you want to hear more about dolphins, basking sharks, nearly drowning and storms around the South of Shetland, get in touch and we'll arrange a time for a pint!  1 September

You can track our progress if you go to www.oytscotland.org.uk and click on the vessel tracking link at the top of the page.  20 August (1.5 hours to go!)

I'm off to join the boats in Leith now.  The weather forecast is not great!  I hope I find my sealegs quickly.  Thanks to everyone for supporting me.  I'll be in touch on my return to let you know how things went.  Cast off!  20 August

Blimey sailing is hard work. I've been hoisting this and letting out that all weekend, getting used to sleeping in a very small space with an awful lot of people and appreciating the insulating effects of oilskins.  9 days at sea in less than 3 weeks time...it's going to be character-building!  2 Aug

Have packed wellies, hat and sea-sickness tablets.  Googling some nautical words so I am well prepared for sailing banter on arrival.  29 July

I'm off for a pre-race training weekend on 30 July.  Basil the dog will be accompanying me as far as Oban and spending a few days holidaying in Fort William with Jim while I am at sea.  Woof!  19 July

I chose Spain in the office World Cup sweepstake so that's another £28 in the bag.  Come on!  15 July

I'm off on a pre-trip training weekend on 30 July.  I am assured all I need to bring for 2 days of sailing is my wellies.  Can that be correct?!  11 July

In a wild moment of abandon I agreed to join a team of people sailing right round the North of Scotland from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shetland.  1,000 miles over 9 days, with just one stop-off at Lerwick on Shetland.  With the famously calm weather of the North Sea and the Atlantic ocean what could go wrong?  I have been assured that my complete lack of training or experience of being on a sailboat can only be an advantage.  Well it certainly sounds like an adventure and I am very excited at the prospect of setting sail late in August.

The Ocean Youth Trust gives young people the opportunity to have life-affirming adventures that they could not otherwise experience.  The aim is to build confidence in young people and help them to develop into social-minded adults with a keen sense of responsibility.  For many of the young people it is the chance of a lifetime - children who care for adults, young people from broken homes and children living in difficult circumstances are actively recruited onto these trips.  To me that sounds like something we should be encouraging wherever we can and all the money I raise will go directly to that cause.

I need to raise at least £2000 but of course I would like to make it even more.  Through my company Impact Limited I have already committed £1000, so that leaves me looking for 50 generous souls to dig deep and donate £20 each or even 20 truly saintly souls prepared to donate £50 each.

I know the people who run the Ocean Youth Trust.  They are committed, organised and professional in everything they do.  So you can be assured that every penny of your donation will be used effectively for the development of young people.

When it comes to charitable spending it can be difficult to choose who to give your money to.  I hope that my involvement will give you the confidence that Ocean Youth Trust is a worthwhile cause.  Go on -  please be generous and splash out a bit on a charitable cause that makes a real difference to young people's lives.

Simon

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PS 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.  So please dig deep and donate now.