Ken Fowler Isle of Wight Challenge
by Stephanie McCormick 9 Jun 2015 16:30 BST
8 June 2015
Ken Fowler's Isle of Wight Challenge © Stephanie McCormick
Highcliffe Sailing Club were proud to support an unusual event this week. Club member Ken Fowler completed a marathon single handed sail around the Isle of Wight in his 14ft Laser.
Ken has only been sailing for 4 years and decided to set himself the challenge to raise funds for Cancer Research and Oakhaven Hospice.
Ken's father's died when he was only 25. His father was 1 of 6, and of those, five were taken by cancer - often at a relatively young age. When his father, died Ken completed a charity bike ride across the USA for cancer research. 25 years on we are still fighting this dreadful disease. He is also supporting Oakhaven Hospice as his father received excellent care in a hospice. Fiona, his wife, has worked in several hospice settings and they understand the importance of making the last days of your life as pain free and comfortable as possible.
This year marks a landmark in Kens life in two ways, firstly he will have spent half of his life without his father -something that really hits home when you are a father yourself - and secondly he is fifty in September,so it seemed a good idea to celebrate his fathers life and address any mid life crisis!
Fortunately the weather was exceptionally kind on the day, with several provisional dates planned, Ken spotted a small window of opportunity during which the wind and tides were favourable. Ken was up early and left Highcliffe Sailing Club at 06.10 on the 8th of June in glorious sunshine. By 7.15 he was just rounding the needles and the coast here threw up some large waves with the swell almost larger than his mast height!
4 hours after setting out he finally made his first tack alongside a group of curious dolphins. With an average wind speed of 10 -12 knots, Ken had been worried about being too slow, if he didn't get to specific places by a certain time the tide would turn and could be so strong that he couldn't make any progress. This was particularly important near the end of the trip navigating through the Hurst castle gap - the tides and wave directions here make it especially challenging and he would have been on the boat for 10 plus hours by then.
Bolstered by the support crew Ken was happily ahead of schedule passing St Catherines point at 9.15. However the support rib developed it's own drama when an oil light appeared to be flashing, help was on hand from club members Saron and Clive Rusden who were waiting with Kens wife at Ryde Pier and towed the support rib to Yarmouth to get a quick check. (Turned out to be a service light that had not been reset after it's recent service!!)
The crew were keeping all the club members updated during the day via facebook and they were thrilled to hear at 5.30pm that Ken was approaching Hurst point and on his way home. Chris Arnell from Christchurch sailing club sailed out to Hurst point to greet Ken and offer encouragement during the last stage. Finally, just before 7pm, after over 10 hours of sailing, the crowd waiting quayside were thrilled to see him approaching. He sailed jubilantly up the run to the sound of cheering, whistles and claxons. Amongst the banners and flags were Kens wife, Fiona, and his 2 sons, Charles and Toby, it was a very emotional moment.
Ken has so far raised over £3000 and it is still rising. If you would like to to donate find him here, uk.virginmoneygiving.com/iowmudeford.