Toe in the Water kicks off 2014 racing programme

Kolga and Toe in the Water on day 2 of the RORC Easter Challenge © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

Gosport based military charity TOE IN THE WATER today launched its 2014 Racing Programme which will see up to 50 injured servicemen compete in key sailing events throughout the summer.

Founded in 2008, the initiative uses competitive sailing as a rehabilitation tool for injured service personnel, many of whom have been wounded in active service in Afghanistan and Iraq, and who are currently treated at Headley Court, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. By acting as an extension to the rehabilitation process, TOE IN THE WATER gives injured service personnel the chance to compete in sailing at a high level and to improve their self-confidence and outlook on life. Since its inception in 2008, TOE IN THE WATER has used competitive sailing to re-inspire, re-engage and re-integrate profoundly and traumatically injured servicemen and women.

Racing on the Farr 45 yacht, 'ATOMIC' kindly loaned by private owner Tony Langley, the TOE IN THE WATER crew will be entering four key events during the year starting with the RORC Easter Regatta which kicks off today from Cowes, and including the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and the Garmin Hamble Winter Big Boat Series.

Last year TOE IN THE WATER enjoyed much success on the water, regularly claiming a podium position throughout their racing season. These results were down to a combination of the dedicated volunteer crew and the determination of the injured servicemen and women who have the ability to reach that little bit further in challenging times and continually prove their worth. In line with the unique ethos of the charity, none of the boats the charity races on have been adapted in any way to accommodate the injuries of the service personnel, instead encouraging them to adapt to the challenge set before them. With medical support on hand both on and off the water, TOE IN THE WATER is able to push participants beyond their comfort zones enabling them to recognise their own capabilities.

Since entering its first crew at Cowes Week in 2008, TOE IN THE WATER has gone on to re-inspire more than 200 injured servicemen and women through competitive sailing as a rehabilitation tool. The majority of TOE IN THE WATER's volunteers are military personnel who have served in the locations where many of the participants sustained their injuries. Captain Lloyd Hamilton MBE is the charity's Director of Racing, as well as a serving officer in the Royal Engineers and will be skippering the Farr 45 for all the events this season.

"Its exciting to be at the beginning of our seventh racing season with Toe in the Water but whilst it may sound a little strange, I am glad to see the number of patients being referred to us gradually decline. The numbers of wounded, injured and sick service personnel is slowly decreasing as our operational activities reduce and as we have always been an entirely 'need-driven' organisation, I look forward to the day when there will no longer be a need for the service we provide – although we're not going anywhere just yet! Lance Corporal Chris Herbert is joining Lloyd and the Toe in the Water crew for the racing in the Solent this weekend. He was is one of the charity's three ambassadors and was one of the first profoundly injured servicemen to be referred to Toe in the Water when it first started at Cowes Week in 2008. Chris lost his right leg when he was blown up by an IED in Iraq in 2007 whilst serving as a soldier with the Territorial Army.

"I'd never even been on ferry before being sent to race with Toe in the Water, let alone competed on a high performance race yacht but it was incredible and has really changed my life. Realising I could race on a boat like this in spite of my injury and being back in a team environment really helped with my physical rehabilitation as well as my attitude to life post injury." reflected Chris.

"I'm now studying marketing at Portsmouth Uni and have completed several trans-atlantic crossings as well as raced for the British Army race team. Being an ambassador for Toe in the Water, the charity who got me started with all this is great as its my way of sharing my experiences with other wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women and giving something back. I'm really excited to be back out on the water racing with the guys this weekend."

Competitive sailing works is a fantastic rehabilitation tool for injured service personnel, not least because it's one of the few sports that enable those referred to compete with and against their able-bodied contemporaries on a level footing. The return to a team environment, often for the first time since sustaining their injury is crucial to providing the injured crew with a safe but adrenalin fuelled environment where they can challenge themselves beyond their own expectations. We're very much looking forward to another busy race programme and to some great competition on the water where the boys can really show what they're made of."

For more information about TOE IN THE WATER contact or visit www.toeinthewater.org. Keep up to date with all our news by joining us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/toeinwateruk and Twitter @toeinthewateruk