The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. More than ever people need the help of the RNLI, but too many people are still drowning.

This needs to change and thanks to your help, it can.

A Selsey yacht is entered in the 51st edition of the bi-annual Fastnet Race in July this year, the 100th anniversary of the first such race. The world-famous race attracts crews from around the world and more than 500 yachts are expected to cross the start line off Cowes on 26th July.

The skipper/owner of 'Marta', Brian Skeet, has competed in the Fastnet Race seven times before - six times on 'Marta' both with a full crew of nine and, on the last two occasions, as a double-handed (two-man) crew. This year will be Brian's final Fastnet Race in 'Marta' and he expects to have a full crew this year. Currently there is still one place remaining and Brain is inviting anyone locally, with the right level of enthusiasm, to join the crew. If you think its something you would like to do drop Brian a message through the sailmarta Facebook page.

'Marta' is a Sigma 38 - a boat designed following the disastrous Fastnet Race of 1979, and which now has a long-standing history as a successful one-design class. The Sigma 38 is 38 feet long with a beam of about 12 feet and a draught of a little over 6 1/2 feet.

The course this year will take the competitors from the Solent, westward along the English Channel to round the Fastnet Rock, off the southernmost tip of Ireland, before returning to finish in Cherbourg - a total distance of over 600 miles. Brian and the crew are seeking sponsorship to raise funds specifically for the Selsey Lifeboat Station to provide crew comforts and equipment for the Selsey Lifeboat Volunteers that are not provided centrally by the RNLI.

Brian, and 'Marta', have a long-standing association with the Selsey Lifeboat Station: the 'good luck charm' on Selsey Lifeboat, Denise and Eric, is a Selsey Seagull emblem, named after 'Marta', Which Brian his Wife, Susanne, along with their 2017 Fastnet crew, presented to the Lifeboat on its arrival on Station in 2017. Brian and Susanne's youngest son, Pip, is a member of Selsey Lifeboat crew.

Brian, and the crew of "Marta" invite you to follow them on their qualifier races - their progress in each event can be tracked on the YB Races app.

"Marta" has a Facebook page and a web-page

More information on the Fastnet Race can be found at www.rolexfastnetrace.com

Please show your support for Brian and the crew of 'Marta' and for the Lifeboat men and women of Selsey Lifeboat Station by donating today...

Selsey Lifeboat Station is crewed by volunteers, who provide a 24 hour search and rescue service. They rely on the support of our local community to power this lifesaving service. Your support will help the running of Selsey Lifeboat Station.

Thank you.

Introducing the crew of yacht ‘Marta’ who will be taking part in the 51 st bi-

annual Rolex Fastnet Race in July this year.

Brian Skeet

The Skipper/Owner of ‘Marta’ is Brian Skeet who is Selsey born and

bred and ran his own business in the village. Brian bought ‘Marta’ twenty

years ago and has been racing and cruising ever since. He has sailed in

seven Fastnet Races before and plans that this year’s event will be his

last. Like his father before him Brian was heavily involved in the Selsey

Scout Group and was the Scout Leader for many years until sailing

became the greater passion.

Brian and his wife, Susanne, have two sons and five grandchildren.

Nicolas Malapert

Nicolas Malapert, coming from France, brings an international element

to the crew of ‘Marta’ but he has a long association with Selsey and has

been a crew member of ‘Marta’ for many years. Nicolas first came to

Selsey in the late 1970s to stay with Mick Madgewick and his family in

Elmtree Close;

Nicolas and Tom Madgewick were about the same age and as Tom was

going to Summer Camp with the Scouts Nicolas asked if he might go too

– in fact Nicolas attended Scout Summer Camp for the next three years

and was also a familiar face at Selsey Carnival.

Nicolas works in the hospitality industry and is now based in Paris; he

has three adult children.

Colin Pullenger

Colin is a lifelong Selsey resident, he has been part of the local RNLI

crew for the past 35 years, currently as a 2nd Mechanic/2nd Coxswain,

dedicating much of his life to keeping others safe on the water. His

connection to Marta's skipper, Brian Skeet, dates back to their days in

the local Scouts, and the two have stayed friends ever since.

Beyond the Fastnet, Colin has over 40 years of sailing experience, he

has his own yacht, and has spent many weekends cruising the Solent.

Colin owns his own welding/engineering business based in Selsey.

This year's Fastnet race will be Colin's third on ‘Marta’. It's a demanding

race, but one he is keen to take on once more, embracing the

camaraderie, adventure, and sense of achievement that only the Fastnet

can offer.

Duncan Marston

Duncan has sailed with Brian for 12 years and this will be his fourth

Rolex Fastnet Race aboard ‘Marta’. He’s also gearing up for his fourth

L’Étape du Tour, the iconic cycle race, a mountainous stage of the Tour

de France, open to the public. Duncan is a keen cyclist, splitting his time

between road riding, mountain biking, and downhilling whenever he can.

And when winter arrives, he always heads back to the French Alps to ski

and snowboard.

Duncan runs his own engineering business and enjoys family life with

his wife and two daughters.

Emma Newman

Emma has been part of the crew on ‘Marta’ since 2013, despite being

from Oxfordshire and the furthest inland you can get from water. A

chance meeting during a sea-survival course led her to switch from a

rather poor experience as part of a training school entry in the Fastnet to

becoming a member of Marta’s crew. Emma has taken part in many

races since, including the Sigma 38 Nationals, JOG and RORC Offshore

series, Spring and Winter Series; this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race will be

her third aboard Marta. Co-incidentally, Emma has since discovered that

as a child Selsey was the family holiday location (Nan had a static

caravan at Bunn Leisure) and two Aunts have at some point lived in

Selsey, with Peggy and Doug still here, meaning they often get a random

visit from Emma when she is staying with her new "Sailing Family".

Bob Lambert

Bob comes from nowhere near Selsey but has known Brian for many

years. He has sailed in the Round Britain and Ireland Race and this year

will be his fourth Fastnet. Bob has been sailing for over a decade and

enjoyed many races and trips on ‘Marta’. He was a Scout Leader for 16

years and is an enthusiastic sea kayaker. He is a long-term supporter of

the RNLI and is pleased to be part of a venture to raise more funds so

they can continue their great work.

Oli Aebi

Oli from Switzerland, the second international crew member on ‘Marta’,

met Brian more than 10 years ago through a common friend from

Selsey. Oli has been sailing all his life on dinghies and lake racers and

did some cruising and racing offshore. Currently mainly racing a J/70 he

has also competed several times in the past few years during Cowes

Week on a First35. This year’s Rolex Fastnet Race will be his second on

‘Marta’. Oli and his wife have a holiday home on the Isle of Wight and

love to spend time there with their two grown-up children.

Could this be YOU?

‘Marta’ has a space for a further crew member and Brian is offering it to

a supporter with the right level of enthusiasm – could this be You?