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Cross Channel Challenge by Rudyard Youth Sailors
Sponsored by boohoo.
*** Update: The team completed the Cross Channel Challenge this weekend in just 7hrs 1min and 45s, ahead of the predicted 8-10 hours. A fantastic achievement and great weekend!
The team are so grateful to all our supporters, the money raised makes such a difference to Maggie's and everyone affected by cancer that visits the centre for support. If you haven't donated yet it's not too late!
Thanks must also go to our sponsors for their support with the Challenge. Thank you Carol Kane & boohoo, ABC Solutions, Hartley Boats & North Staffs Powerboat! Also to Andy & the Sailing Grace crew.**
A team of youth sailors from Rudyard Lake Sailing Club has set themselves the challenge to sail across the English Channel in a 15-foot sailing boat to raise funds for a special charity close to their hearts, Maggie’s Manchester. In the grounds of The Christie Hospital, Maggie’s is a cancer support charity that helps not just people with cancer, but also their loved ones too.
The Challenge
In September 2019, a team of youth sailors, aged 16 to 27, from Rudyard Lake SC plans to sail a 15-foot dinghy across the English Channel. Starting from Rye and finishing in Boulogne, the team of six will be supported by a mother ship and support RIB. The route is approximately 45 miles, crossing times can vary depending on conditions.
The Idea
The thought of doing this Challenge was initiated following the donation of a new Hartley 15 sailing dinghy to the youth section (Jybaz) of Rudyard Lake Sailing Club by a local company, ABC Solutions. This boat is part of the sailing club’s drive to modernise its training fleet, to continue its growth, improve the availability of training for young people and support the current group of sailors.
The team are now very excited to announce boohoo Group as the sponsor for the challenge. Rudyard Lake is a place visited regularly by the Co-Founder of The boohoo Group Carol Kane. When she heard about the Youth Sailing Club’s mission to raise money for the amazing Manchester based charity Maggie’s Centre, she was very keen to give them both boohoo’s and her own personal support.
‘I’m delighted to be able to support the crew in their endeavour to sail across the English Channel. The team at the Rudyard Lake Sailing Club do great work, especially with their youth sailors and hope we can help to raise awareness and fund for this fantastic charity, Maggie’s Centre.’ Carol Kane – Co-Founder of The boohoo Group
Why Maggie’s Centre?
The work done by Maggie’s has recently helped one of our Jybaz and her family enormously during a very difficult time. Meg and Emma Smith first learnt to sail at Jybaz where they graduated from Oppies to the Racing Team and then became Instructors helping at the club for a number of years. Meg continued her sailing career when she went to university, competing with the Durham University 1st team in National Team Racing, finishing 5th nationally in her third year.