EDDYSTONE WINDSURF CHALLENGE

A team of five windsurfers have set themselves the challenge of a 30-mile
blast out to and around the Eddystone lighthouse, which lies 13 miles south
of Plymouth, to raise money for charity.

The last time the team undertook this challenge in November 2000, 3 out of
6 sailors successfully completed the course by sailing from Plymouth Sound –
raising £1500 in the process.

This time they intend to set sail from Looe in Cornwall over the weekend
of 25-26 May. This venue extends the distance by four miles and means a good
broad reach blast in a reliable south-westerly wind, 14.5 miles each way. The
swell is normally pretty big out at the Eddystone, so it’s quite a challenge
to get there and back…

The group of five consists of three local police officers – Alex Danning, Steve
Langman and Nick Rowell, engineer Lyndon Clark and Reactive Watersports’ Reubin
Ellis. They will be raising money for 3 charities – Cancer Research, RNLI and
Devon Air Ambulance, and aim to reach a target of £3000 which will be
split between the three charities.

The challenge is being supported by powerful ribs provided by Devon and Cornwall
Police, the Environment agency and Reactive Watersports. Tushingham Sails are
offering support with equipment, and so far the team is being generously sponsored
by SOLA wetsuits, Cosalt safety systems and Invensys engineering. The event will
be filmed and include local press coverage.

This is quite a unique event, and in 2000 generated a lot of local interest
and promoted windsurfing in a good light by raising money for some very worthwhile
causes. We’re promoting it by publicising it on the website and in the magazine,
so it’s over to our faithful readers to do their bit by bunging the lads some
cash.

Anyone interested in sending a donation can email [email protected]
, call 01752 896037, or can send it direct marked for the attention of ‘Reubin
Ellis’ at Reactive Watersports, Queen Annes Battery, Plymouth, Devon. Sponsors
can either ask for money to be split between the three charities or specify
a particular one out of the three. Obviously the RNLI are always grateful of
support from windsurfers!

So what are you waiting for?