This year’s Ocean Challenge saw all winds and weathers testing the Veterans throughout – but they certainly rose to the challenge!
The week started well as the Veterans were all met by Lead Veteran – Willie Ploughman – who helped them get settled in to their home for the week – Emerald Star and Adelaide Star.
With the support of SWV Veterans and fantastic Skippers Tony and Simon, this year’s Ocean Challenge Veterans took to the water to get stuck into their sailing training. The Veterans were all new to sailing but the patient and experienced Skippers taught them well and they soon got to grips with what was being asked of them onboard.
After the first day of sailing it was smiles all round as they sailed into Buckler’s Hard Marina, especially as many of the crew had spotted grey seals on the approach to Beaulieu river. That evening charity CEO – Gilly Norton – joined the crews for a BBQ and gave a talk to the Veterans about the avenues of support on offer through SWV. Simon Mosely also gave a speech about the SWV Rivers’ Forum and the opportunities that it can bring SWV Veterans.
Throughout the week the Veterans learnt how well they worked together as a team and supported each other as they built in confidence. Many of the Veterans were apprehensive before the challenge, unsure how they would deal with their disabilities while onboard. But the camaraderie and kindness amongst the crews helped them overcome challenges that they faced and it was amazing to see them all grow in confidence as the week progressed.
The training got more intense as the week progressed in the build up to the Round The Island Race scheduled for the Saturday of the Ocean Challenge. And this is when Mother Nature bought in the biggest challenge of the week – strong winds!
On the evening before the event the race organisers made the call to cancel some sections of the race due to the forecast of more high winds, so not all of the 936 boats entered would actually get to start. Thankfully Emerald Star and Adelaide Star were not impacted by this decision. So that evening the crews stayed in Cowes, having dinner at the Commodore’s House where the teams got to meet the Ocean Challenge boat’s sponsors – Fiera Capital and BPL Insurance.
The morning of the race arrived – and so did the stronger winds! The Ocean Challenge crews were still ready and raring to go!
Heading off from the start line was an exciting experience, and though the conditions were tricky, the Ocean Challenge Veterans rose to the challenge digging deep and working well together as great teams.
As the race progressed though it became clear that to push on for the whole race – which is a tough race even in favourable conditions – would be a big ask for the Ocean Challenge Veterans. They had had a positive week, so in the name of safety and not wanting to knock their confidence, the difficult decision was made to retire from the race.
It was a tough decision to make – but made for the right reasons – and as the teams returned to the moorings there were still smiles all round. The teams were not deflated, but elated to have even got as far into the race as they had – especially in such challenging conditions!
That night was the final night of the Ocean Challenge where the teams stayed in Cowes again, and it was here that one of the Veterans got to celebrate his 73rd birthday!
After breakfast the following morning the crews made their way back across the solent from Cowes to Gosport to moor up for the final time that week, and what a week it had been. Such positive feedback from the Veterans came through within hours of the Veterans returning home – but the support doesn’t stop here – the Veterans are given a Mentor to work with if they wish, or access to other SWV support pathways to help them keep up the positive momentum they gained through this transformational week.
For details on the other SWV support pathways, please Click below
