UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge 2008 - Preview

The prestigious and demanding UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge, hosted jointly by Hampshire and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Services, will take to the waters of the Solent for its fifth successive year from the Tuesday, 29 April to Thursday, 1 May 2008.

Event organisers are delighted to announce that Dame Ellen MacArthur is supporting this year's event, which will be raising money for her charity as well as the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund. Dame Ellen is hoping to attend one of the event dinners to be held in the Cowes Yacht Haven.

Ex-firefighter Mike Golding, one of the world's best offshore racing sailors, is also supporting the event. Commenting on the upcoming regatta, he said: "Having spent 12 years as a Fire Officer in the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service before pursuing my passion for sailing on a professional basis, I am delighted to be supporting the UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge. Sailing is a tough and complex sport that requires huge commitment and dedication. The UK's Fire and Rescue Service is widely acknowledged as being one of the most dedicated and professional services in the world and I am extremely confident that we will see some highly competitive racing on the water."

From a modest starting entry of 11 yachts in 2004, this year's event has already attracted 23 confirmed teams. The Challenge is open to 37-foot one-design yachts crewed by public sector Fire and Rescue Service personnel from all over the UK, including teams from Jersey and Guernsey. The popularity of the event has also seen enquiries from the country's Police and Ambulance Services and to recognise the special relationship the Emergency Services share, they have been invited to participate - making this a unique blue-light sailing event.

As funds will be raised for two very deserving charities this year, the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund and the Ellen MacArthur Trust, organisers are delighted to have attracted sponsorship for the event. Telent Plc will be the prime sponsors and are entering two of their own yachts in the event.

The testing three-day event, which includes a passage race and a series of round the cans races, will be contested onboard Jeanneau Sunfast 37's chartered from Sunsail, Port Solent. The lively West Cowes Marina, Isle of Wight, will be hosting the competitors at the end of the first two days, providing a relaxing environment to recharge and to relive some of the on-water action. In the past, some competitors have found the evening social events testing in their own right and tales of shore side encounters can often rival the competition on the water!

As the UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge is now achieving new dimensions as one of the most significant events in the Fire Services sporting calendar, a photographic RIB will follow the three-day event and pictures may be viewed on the newly launched website at www.ukfsc.org.uk

Have we caught your interest? Would you like to take part next year as a Fire and Rescue Service or perhaps as a team sponsor? For further details, contact Retired Divisional Officer Mick Stead through the website to find out more.