Challenge Details

Later this summer we are planning to sail a small high-performance catamaran continuously around the Isle of Wight for 24 hours without any external physical assistance, as far as we are aware, this has never been attempted before.

The boat will be a Spitfire, which is a 16 foot twin trapeze racing catamaran with an asymmetric spinnaker (see pictures). A boat like this is very demanding to sail, both in terms of physical effort and the need to be 'on the ball' to avoid capsizing or pitch-poling (cart wheeling). This coupled with the night sailing element means that the event will be a very real test of physical and mental endurance.

From previous experience a single circumnavigation takes about 7 hours so we can expect about 2½ circumnavigations depending on the conditions (and the wind will probably drop at night). This is a distance of about 130 miles as the crow flies (which is about the same as the distance from Portsmouth to Calais). In reality our distance through the water will be much greater because our course will consist of a series of zig-zags for about half the time (i.e. tacking upwind and reaching downwind).

The physical and mental challenges presented by this event are considerable, but with good planning and preparation the risks can be brought down to an acceptable level. Whilst we will not receive any physical assistance during the event, we will have a rescue team available in case of an emergency. Volunteers will man 2 rigid inflatable boats which will remain on standby throughout the 24 hour period, waiting in strategic positions on opposite sides of the island. A yacht on the South side of the Island will act as a command and communications post.

Apart from being a 'first' and a personal endurance challenge the purpose of this event is to raise money for charity. We will be approaching some companies for sponsorship (mainly free equipment) to help minimise costs, but this is a not-for-profit exercise and none of the money donated by individuals will be used to fund the event.

By the time of the event we will have been planning and training for approximately 7 months. However success will depend largely on the weather, something we have no control over! We have set 2 alternative dates to try and mitigate this (July 15/16 and Aug 5/6) but there is always the possibility that we will not be able to do this in 2006.

Richard Golden and Charles Howting.