£10,000 raised for charity in the Eddystone Charity Pursuit

Nineteen yachts belonging to berth holders at Plymouth’s Mayflower Marina raised £10,000 for charity when they took part in the Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit on Saturday 17th July.

Open to any yacht that can safely sail offshore, the Charity Pursuit is a 26 mile sailing marathon where yachts start at intervals based broadly on their Portsmouth Yardstick handicap with the slowest yachts starting first. The aim is to round the Hand Deeps Buoy, just West of Eddystone, before finishing back in Plymouth Sound.

Entrants raise sponsorship money for their nominated charity and then, dependent upon their finishing position and amount of sponsorship, collect prize money to boost their sponsorship total – all of which is given to charity.

Over the last eight years the Pursuit has raised £170,000 for local charities and this year alone has raised £46,120.

Charles Bush Managing Director of Mayflower Marina who took part said, “After early drizzle and very light wind the skies cleared and the breeze filled in with a good force 4 from the South West making for a true beat out to the Hand Deeps Buoy. The return leg back to Plymouth saw an exciting spinnaker run home in glorious sunshine. 80 yachts started, and by the end of the day 75 had completed the full course.”

One of the 19 boats that took part from Mayflower Marina, the Beatrice Chanler, raised £3,024 and collected the £500 prize for raising the most sponsorship.

A number of the Mayflower Marina entrants raised money for the Horizons children’s sailing charity which is based at the Marina. Its aim is to help disadvantaged and disabled children from Plymouth by providing opportunities that increase self-confidence, improve social and practical skills through the experience of water-based activities.

The Eleanor Creek Charitable Settlement provided £12,850 for prizes for the Eddystone Pursuit, as well as paying the cost of running the event. This added to the £33,270 raised in advance by individual boats and meant that an astounding £46,120 was raised for local and National charities.

More information on the Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit website.