Round the Island Fundraiser 2024 – Team Pick & Mix
We recently held our annual Round the Island Fundraising Challenge, where three teams aimed to be the first to sail around the Isle of Wight while raising funds for their vital youth development work. Amelia and Tilly from the winning team, Pick & Mix, have written this blog to share their experience.
Day 1
Friday 15 March
We arrived at Challenger 2 early in the morning, ready for a big adventure. We met the other people and explored the boat a bit. There were lots of different compartments, and we shared a bed/bunk room! The other people on the boat were very nice and really friendly. After everyone had arrived, we had a safety brief and lunch. Picnic food, yum! After lunch, we were (formally) shown around and were taught about the boat and how to use it. Then we set off to begin the adventure. We motored out the river and then started to put the sails up. It was very cold but we all mucked in! The winches were very big and when I looked up at the mast, I felt very small. For the first part, we mainly used the engine and took turns steering the boat around the buoys. When the wind picked up a bit, we started to use the main sail and jib instead. The boat tipped over lots and I found it scary at first, but then I loved it. The water was so fierce and powerful, but I loved how it rolled. We got to put our feet over the edge on the high side, and the sea sprayed us so much! After a while of sailing in the Solent, we un-sea weeded the engine and headed to Cowes. We got into port as is started to get dark and packed the boat up whilst listening to ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’. While I (Amelia) danced madly in time. We are now helping to make Fajitas for supper. I can’t wait! All in all, a great day, we can’t wait for tomorrow!
Day 2
Saturday 16 March
Today, we woke up at 5:30 to get ready. We were very tired but after breakfast we were raring to go. We woke the boat up, and made sure it was prepared for the trip before heading off to the needles. We motored over there, today was less windy and cold. Good and Bad! The ride over there was very chilled, the water was so still and it was smooth sailing. Once we got to the start line, we waited for the wind to pick up then lined up with the other boats. Someone from the other boats shouted a countdown over the radio, and we set off at 0. We had to hoist the sails as quick as possible. Boat 3 went off on the route along the coast, it was sheltered there, but more current. Challengers 2&1 stayed away from the land to catch the wind. Challenger 3 was ahead, but then started to slow down. It tacked, and went way off course. Meanwhile, we were catching up on boat 1, and finally we got past them! While we were cruising along, we saw some dolphins break the waves near where we were! They were dark blue, and had a hooked dorsal fin. We sailed along for while with the competition way behind us. It was amazing, we went from last to winning. We went past the finish line at exactly 13:00, with an easy win against the others. Challenger 3 was on the horizon as we passed, with boat 1 being only a bit closer.
After we had moored the ship and cleaned up a bit, we went to the ‘Island Sailing Club’ to have a celebratory supper. There were lots of people there, and Kirsty did a couple of speeches. Charlotte made one too! They were so good. I chose chicken for supper, very good. Tilly chose the Halloumi. We chatted for ages. Then we did the prizes. From our boat, Sue and Karen both got the prize. We collected all of our medals, and then went back for a well-earned sleep.
Day 3
Sunday 17 March
We woke up today at around 7:30, and started to get ready to leave. We made breakfast (bagels and scrambled eggs, yum!) and then started to write this blog. Our aim today is to motor back to Portsmouth, and then head home for a nice, warm shower. We might sail, but we don’t have to. However, we still need to get the sails for safety in case the engine fails. It has been AMAZING!! And I am definitely coming back if I can persuade daddy to. We have had so much fun and love rolling around on the waves. At home it will take a while for me to stop swaying with the tide!
Amelia and Tilly.
