FUN class international - sailing racing

On 2nd July 2005 we started a new race/cruise from an idea I had while my partners mum was ill with cancer, the plan was to sail round the Isle of Wight and raise money for the island hospice. This idea was adopted by East Cowes Sailing Club, and run with the backing of the hospice. This will be the first of what will become an annual event which will be grown over many years to come. The crew members on each boat are sponsored by friends and family to complete the course.

As this was year 1 and the event was organised within 2 months we weren't expecting high turn outs or huge amounts of money but we had 2 boats interested with a total of 6 people doing the course. The wind was a south west 4-5 ideal for the task ahead.

The boats "dementia" and "volumus" mustered at the ECSC line for a 0700 hrs start and then set off west down the solent for the needles light house, this was a 3 hour beat against the wind and for the 1st hour the tide as well, giving us plenty of time to break out the flask and have tea and biscuits.
By 1030 we were round the light and heading off on a reach towards St. Catherine's point, another 3 hours away. Lunch was had while clinging to the windward rail, trying to spot the light house in the mist. We found it and went round the point. This is an area of a large tide race and waves can stand quite tall, on this occasion there was 3- 3.5 meters, so we got in a spot of surfing at 12.5 knots main sail only past ventnor and then gibed in for bembridge, which had disappeared in the mist. After putting our trust in the GPS bembridge emerged from the mist, the cloud went and the sun came out. We rounded culver cliffs at about 1530 and were back in the solent where the wind was dropping. Close hauled back to cowes was all that remained. Time for tea and another sandwich. The leg took another 3hours 15 with wind force 3 one minute and 0 the next. We made it back to cowes and the finish line at 1845 some 11hours 45mins after we started, with a great sense of achievement and proud to have started a new tradition that will benefit the care of those who are fighting cancer, and make the final days of others more comfortable.

The money is still at this time being collected but we estimate we raised between £300 - £400.
What better tribute to the lady that was Jane Ruler.