Three toes in the water at J80 Autumn Cup

Three toes in the water at the J80 Autumn Cup © Robin Price

Three toes in the water at the J80 Autumn Cup © Robin Price

Three toes in the water at the J80 Autumn Cup © Robin Price

This year’s J80 Autumn Cup, hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club in Plymouth saw three extraordinary entries battle it out amongst the fiercely competitive fleet. ‘TOE IN THE WATER’ is a non-profit making organisation, which uses sailing as a vehicle to re-inspire injured servicemen and woman, many of whom have been wounded inactive service in Afghanistan and Iraq, and who currently being treated at Headley Court, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. It was launched this August when it entered a team into the IRC 2 class at this year’s Skandia Cowes Week, achieving three finishes in the Top 5, and first place on their final day of racing.

Co-funded by Help for Heroes, TOE IN THE WATER entered three J80s into the Autumn Cup regatta, two boats kindly donated for the event by the RYA and another by the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. Each crew was made up of 2 injured soldiers and 3 able-bodied crew and competed not only against each other but also against entries from all over the UK. Extreme weather including winds gusting up to force 9 mean that racing was cancelled on Day One, but as the wind dropped, the race organisers managed to get in four races on Sunday. All three TOEs performed well during the racing with TOE IN THE WATER 3, skippered by Lloyd Hamilton finishing in third overall at the end of the day.

"I never thought it would be like this; competitive, tactical, technical and a sport where team work is essential. I am still shaking from the adrenalin rush. I am hooked and I can't stop thinking about sailing. I’ve got fireworks going off in my head." Commented, injured soldier, Pte Chris Herbert, part of the TOE IN THE WATER 3 crew, and one of the four amputees competing this weekend.

The aim of the Initiative is simple. To provide injured servicemen and women with a challenging, demanding environment in which they can compete on an equal footing with their contemporaries. Yacht racing provides one of the few vehicles to compete against and alongside able-bodied people. It is ideal, not least because there are a myriad of different roles on board, requiring different physical and mental skills across a large competitive team. The work at Headley Court is world-renowned for its successful rehabilitation programmes. TOE IN THE WATER is an extension of that process, giving injured servicemen the chance to compete in sailing at a high level and to improve their self-confidence and outlook on life.

“I absolutely loved racing at Cowes Week - my first ever sailing experience, and I couldn’t wait to get on the water again this weekend on the J80s. It is brilliant being able to compete on the same playing field as able-bodied sailors - and beat them. On the boat we're not treated any different - there's no sympathy or fuss and that's really what we want. It makes the buzz as we cross the finish line in front of all these good sailors even better." Commented, Cpl Nick Gilliver, who sustained blast injuries whilst on duty in Iraq.

The initiative is now being registered as an independent charity and is putting together a comprehensive racing programme in the UK and abroad planned for the next two to three years. The swell of public support in particular from the sailing world has been phenomenal; it is with this backing and that of the Military, that competitive campaigns like ‘TOE IN THE WATER’ will develop and grow well on into the future. Direct funding to the project enables the project to continue the rehabilitation activities at several high profile inshore and offshore regattas around the globe.