Toe in the Water to race around the Isle of Wight

Supported by the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry

On Saturday 1st June tri service initiative, TOE IN THE WATER, will once again be taking part in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. As a result of a grant awarded by the Endeavour Fund, an initiative created by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, the Hampshire based charity have been able to co-fund the entry of two boats in this year's race. With the balance of funding having been kindly provided by The Rothschild Foundation, TOE IN THE WATER are enabling wounded and injured service personnel to compete in this prestigious yacht race.

The charity, founded in 2008, uses competitive sailing as a rehabilitation tool and aim to re-inspire the men and women of our Armed Forces who have sustained profound and traumatic injuries often including the loss of limbs, to move beyond their injury and become re-inspired by life.

Taking on the J P Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will be the charity's own Farr 52, TOE IN THE WATER, which will be skippered by record breaking round the world yachtswoman, Dee Caffari MBE. The annual event is a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, regularly attracting over 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors. Caffari will be joined on-board by a number of wounded and injured servicemen, many of whom will never have sailed before their training session the day before the 50 mile sprint around the island.

Speaking ahead of the race, Caffari said:
"The long term forecast is looking like we will see northerly winds which could lead to a pretty swift lap of the Isle of Wight. Fortunately we will see similar conditions during our training day so I am confident that the sailors and non-sailors on board Toe in the Water will be as prepared as possible ahead of the early start on race day. I love this event, seeing all those people and boats enjoying our sport, it really is a sight to behold."

In addition to TOE IN THE WATER, a second yacht has been generously loaned to the charity once again by dedicated supporter, Tony Langley. The Farr 45 Atomic will race under the name TOE IN THE WATER TOO for this event and will be skippered by Toe in the Water's Racing Director and serving Royal Engineer, Captain Lloyd Hamilton MBE. The entry of a second boat allows the charity to extend its reach and give a greater number of injured service men and women the opportunity to experience a competitive sailing environment.

For injured service personnel, many of whom have been wounded in active service in Afghanistan and Iraq, participation in a TOE IN THE WATER programme acts as an extension to their rehabilitation process, giving them the chance to compete in sailing at a high level and improve their self-confidence and outlook on life. With medical support on hand both on and off the water, the patients race with and against able bodied crew and are able to push themselves out of their comfort zones enabling them to recognise their own capabilities.

TOE IN THE WATER receives no statutory funding and relies entirely on voluntary contributions from individuals, trusts and companies. 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 continue to succeed and help meet the needs of our injured servicemen and women.

www.toeinthewater.org