Push the boat out for Toe in the Water

Cowes sailor Brian Thompson will be helming for Toe in the Water during Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and the charity has asked competitors, supporters and the public alike to help make their shore-side fundraising as successful as their on the water racing performance.

Toe in the Water uses sailing as a vehicle to re-inspire injured servicemen and women, all of whom have been profoundly wounded, some sustaining loss of limb(s) and who are currently being treated at Headley Court, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. The servicemen and women’s active participation in the event is a crucial part of their rehabilitation programme after sustaining traumatic injuries, many sustained whilst recently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, although many of them have never been on a yacht before, let alone raced competitively.

Since entering its first crew at Cowes Week in 2008, Toe in the Water has gone on to re-inspire more than 160 profoundly and traumatically injured servicemen women through competitive sailing, including numerous top 10 finishes across a string of regattas and national competitions.

Toe in the Water has organised a range of fundraising activities and events in conjunction with many of the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week partners. They include a ‘Vintage Great British Supper Party’ on Sunday, 12 August at Northwood House in Cowes; a display by The Black Knights, the Royal Artillery Parachute Display Team, on Tuesday, 14 August just off Trinity Landing and The Parade; and the massive ‘Legends & Heroes Crew Party’ at Shepards Wharf Marina on Friday, 17 August.

“But don’t forget we’re also coming to race!” said Capt Lloyd Hamilton MBE, Racing Director of Toe in the Water, “2012 just keeps getting bigger and better for us and we are thrilled to be back again this year, both as official charity, but also perhaps more importantly to race. We will be entering two yachts, a Farr 52 Toe in the Water generously donated to us earlier this year, and the British Army’s A40RC which will be racing as Toe in the Water TOO. These two high performance yachts give us the capacity to accommodate even more patients with an even greater range of injuries and we’re also looking forward to having round the world legends Dee Caffari MBE and Brian Thompson at the helm with us again during the week.”

Read the full story here and for more information about any of the events or Toe in the Water in general, contact info@toeinthewater.org.

Photo: Toe in the Water at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. Credit: Rick Tomlinson.

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