Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit at the Royal Western Yacht Club
by Michael Green 1 Jul 2015 08:00 BST
13 June 2015
Huff of Arklow, whose crew included the youngest sailor in the event, five-year-old Leonardo Bridgeman, during the Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit © Robin Price
Eddystone Pursuit's fundraising record
The Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit, held on 13th June, was the most successful ever – raising over £96,000 for some three dozen charities. This brought the overall sum raised since the event started 14 years ago to well over £500,000, providing funding for over 130 charities.
Julia Creeke, who heads the sponsor's organising team, said she was utterly dumbfounded with the amazing result. "This probably makes the Pursuit the biggest single charity fundraising event in the South West – no mean achievement for ordinary mortals in a variety of yachts of varying ages, sizes and types," she added. The enthusiastic efforts on behalf of the 74 boats which took part is also believed to make it easily the biggest fundraiser per boat in the UK yachting circuit.
The annual event is a 26 mile sail - not a race as such - from Plymouth Sound, round the Eddystone Lighthouse (or thereabouts depending on weather) and back. It's dubbed 'a fun chase to fund raise' - and each boat chooses which charity to back – the only condition being that the charity's work must 'benefit the human condition.'
This was the requirement set out under the Eleanor Creeke Charitable Settlement, which backs the Pursuit with an annual 'prize pot'. This year the sponsor put up £16,500, which was added to the sums raised by the participating boats, depending on points raised for how soon they entered, how much sponsorship they raised, and how they sailed on the day. One boat raised over £13,000 and two other more than £10,000, before 'prize pot' money was added.
The Pursuit began as an event to mark the 175th anniversary of the Royal Western Yacht Club in 2002, but proved so popular it quickly became an annual fixture. "The idea was to raise money for charity because the sailing world is often mistakenly seen as rich and privileged," Julia recalls.
The event is very professionally run, thanks in large part to having James Bremridge of RORC as sailing officer. This is recognised by the RYA, to which the Pursuit has been affiliated for the past two years – the first such charitable event to gain such recognition. And thanks to the generosity and support of Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium, the day ends appropriately with a prize giving supper in the Aquarium's Eddystone Hall.
For details of each boat's choice of charity and funds raised, please see the website (www.eddystonepursuit.com). Special prizes are also awarded. For example, the Spirit of the Eddystone Pursuit prize went to Tectona, one of the Island Trust charity's boats, which works to motivate young people, especially those with drink or drug problems, through sailing. To encourage business and other organisations, the '341' challenge for the Smeaton Trophy gives companies and sailing clubs the opportunity to enter a boat which must have three or more employees or club members in the crew, all raising funds for one charity.
Good hearted sailors with charitable inclinations are encouraged to put the date of the next Pursuit in their diaries: Saturday 18th June 2016.