Injured Servicemen put Toe in the Water at Red Funnel Easter Regatta

by Anna Wardley on 10 Apr 2009 For nine of the sailors on three boats preparing to compete at this weekend’s Red Funnel Easter Regatta, 10-12 April, their participation in the event is a crucial part of their rehabilitation programme after sustaining traumatic injuries.

Sailing under the banner of Toe in the Water, a group of injured servicemen will be lining up with and against able-bodied teams for the three-day regatta. Many of them have never sailed before and the competitive environment provides a disciplined team setting with a shared focus which directly aids their rehabilitation.

Charity Director Holly King said: 'Sailing competitively as part of a team helps to re-inspire servicemen who have suffered traumatic injuries. The Red Funnel Regatta marks the start of the racing season and for many of our participants it will signal a turning point in their lives.'

Toe in the Water is a non-profit organisation which uses sailing as a vehicle to re-inspire the injured servicemen and women, many of whom have been severely wounded and even lost limbs in active service in Afghanistan and Iraq, and who are currently treated at Headley Court, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.

The charity, founded last year, will be entering teams in seven events throughout 2009. The programme commences with the Red Funnel Easter Regatta followed by the Warsash Spring Championships, J80 National Championships, the JP Morgan Round the Island Race, Cowes Week, Dartmouth Week and the J80 Autumn Cup. It is planned that up to 60 injured service personnel will sail competitively with the project this year.

The 18th Red Funnel Easter Challenge Regatta 2009 organised by RORC consists of seven inshore ‘round the cans’ races in the Central Solent. The concentred sailing time and short fast courses are ideal for working on teamwork and learning new skills. There will be a huge variety of boats competing at Easter with hundreds of crew from all walks of life from novices to top professional and Olympic sailors.

Toe in the Water Racing Manager Lloyd Hamilton, currently serving in Iraq with the Royal Engineers, said: 'It’s great to kick off the season with such great backing from our partners – I’m gutted to be missing it. Thanks to the continued support from UKSA, RORC, the RYA and the Army Sailing Association the crew are looking forward to a great weekend of racing that will set the scene for a great second season for Toe in the Water.'

This weekend Toe in the Water will be entering three boats - an Archambault 40RC, racing as ‘Toe in the Water’, which will enable four injured servicemen per day to race alongside their able bodied counterparts and a J80 keel boat, racing as ‘Little Toe’, loaned by the Royal Yachting Association and a J109 keel boat, racing as ‘Big Toe’, kindly provided by Private owner Steve Maine, both of which will accommodate a further two injured crew members, most of whom have never sailed before, let alone competed in the regatta.

After a training day on Thursday, the Toe in the Water crews will race on Friday, Saturday and Sunday alongside top match racing champions onboard the three boats.

Speaking at the Toe in the Water able-bodied crew selection weekend last month, former Olympic and Americas Cup sailor Andy Beadsworth said: 'This is a fantastic initiative and one that I’m really proud to lend my support to. Most of these boys have never set foot on a boat before, let alone raced at this level and to see the difference it can make to them, the confidence it gives them back is amazing.'

Toe in the Water receives no statutory funding and relies entirely on voluntary contributions from individuals, trusts and companies.

For more information go to: www.toeinthewater.org