Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2009 | Page 58

life

ON THE WATER

Crew of Challenge Breast Cancer Care with singer Jonathan Ansell

L to R: Shirley Robertson, Gus McKechnie & crew of Challenge
Macmillan , Sir Robin Knox Johnston

Contessa 26 Contessina with David and

writer Dave Spikey was a guest crew for

Saints School came out on top. In third

Carole Armstrong, their daughter Claire

Prostate UK and remarked on his way

place, William Bennet-Lynch has just

and son-in-law Michael. David is a past

round: "I thought the Ellen MacArthur

started learning to sail and was overjoyed

Commodore of the Royal Yorkshire

Trust people would be copying their

to receive the prize from his idol Ben

Yacht Club and brought the boat down

patron by sailing single-handed. I

Ainslie.

from Bridlington to compete. He bought

distinctly saw them all using two!" Breast

Contessina three years ago as a virtual

Cancer Care included two young mums

of the Island a Sigma 38 spinnaker

wreck and has now restored the boat to

from Southampton diagnosed with cancer

was spotted carrying the question

her former glory. Winner of the Classic

four years ago. For Louise Rall and Rachel

"Rebecca will you marry me?" This

Racing Yacht class, Cherete is a Mk I East

Brady this was an a mazing introduction

was Max Walker's unusual way of

Anglian built in 1958 and another fine

to sailing. They carried out every task on

popping the question to crew Rebecca,

boat rescued by shipwright David Haugh

the boat from helming to trimming and

whose attention was initially dedicated

from being used as firewood. Mizpah

of course making the tea. Macmillan may

to trimming the spinnaker guy on

(Alex Charlton) was the top original Old

have been first back of the four boats but

Pavlova III. Shouts from surrounding

Gaffer. In the same class Rosenn, built

everyone was a winner.

boats encouraged her to look up. We

in 1896 and the oldest boat in the race,

Local schools had also entered into the

Everyone likes a happy ending. South

are pleased to report the proposal

dropped one place to third this year but

spirit of the race. Students from Cowes

was accepted and there were great

this might have been due to co-owner

High School designed, manufactured and

celebrations at the Sigma 38 Class

journalist Bob Fisher seeing a deadline

raced their own radio-controlled model

Association 21st birthday party ashore.

approach having to concentrate more on

boats round a polystyrene Isle of Wight.

The Island Sailing Club looks forward

filing his copy.

Two heats and a final decided the winner

to welcoming Max, Rebecca and all the

in the boat building competition Team DB.

thousands of sailors who took part in the

the Charity Challenge competitors

In the Regatta Village Ben Ainslie had the

race this year to the 2010 JPMorgan Asset

representing four major charities: Prostate

difficult task of judging an amazing array

Management Round the Island Race on

UK, The Ellen MacArthur Trust, Breast

of entries in the drawing competition for

Saturday 19th June.

Cancer Care and Macmillan. Comedian/

primary schools. Marnie Post from All

Amongst the proudest to finish were

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