Cowes to Cherbourg - an 85 Mile Challenge - Weather Permitting

Saturday the 3rd September was scheduled for the latest attempt to take on the challenge of sailing a 22' dinghy from Cowes to Cherbourg to raise money for the Sail 4 Cancer charity. The team consisting of 12 members had rescheduled their weekend to support one another and the charity. The first problem was to locate another vehicle as the one previously put forward from the organisation itself, was being used that weekend, but that's a mere drop in the Ocean for this team and an alternative was sourced and green for go.

The team leader Jon Burgess, who's idea this has been throughout, constantly looked at different weather models, having to postpone the challenge in June was so disappointing. Lows appeared in the Atlantic but they soon filled and collapsed, then highs replaced them, meaning more stable weather but at what cost? Now, would there be enough wind?

Cowes to Cherbourg, taking into account boat manoeuvres, is around 85nm. A 22' dinghy is mere driftwood as far as the shipping in the Channel is concerned; shipping may not spot the boat until it is too late. Radar would go over the top of the little boat in a big sea, and the boat a sitting duck if unable to move.

0700 was the due start time Saturday morning - not enough time to find out from colleagues who were racing the night before as to how the breeze fared in the channel. However none of this mattered. Each member of this team is crucial to the success of the challenge and the worsening of an illness of a family member for the driver of the land team meant that he could not be expected to assist and a new challenge was bestowed. Despite contacting as many people as possible, towing is not for the faint hearted and towing Jon's boat is something completely different! Jon had entrusted this task to his good friend whose job it is to move the nation's national treasures around Europe in his lorry. So if boots were to be filled, they had to match Jim's - not an easy task.

No decision is taken lightly and to postpone the event yet again is never an easy call to make. The weather still was still a concern as it was difficult to see where the wind was going to come from. On Thursday, with two issues still unresolved, Jon put the challenge on hold. That painful e-mail went out to all concerned: the team members, the Maritime Coast Guard Agency and the Queens Assistant Harbour Master at Southampton.

Jon says, "We are a team and as such we will rally behind Jim if required, but we're there for him. With the weather likely to worsen the challenge will be rescheduled for next year, so do please keep an eye on this page. We now have 6 months in which to go national with coverage & sponsorship so may be out of the fire a phoenix will rise."

Jon's racing buddies having set off at 1900 on Friday night got to with 25 nm of Cherbourg before the wind failed on them, they decided after searching for any available breeze, to turn on the engine and head back to England.

Jon hopes that over the Christmas period, his team doesn't put on weight as he's told them he's not ordering any more team shirts!

• Jon Burgess
• Barry Atkinson
• Sam Burgess