Toe in the Water celebrating third birthday at Cowes Week

(l to r) Lloyd Hamilton, Dee Caffari, Brian Thompson © Toe in the Water / Louay Habib

Toe in the Water is celebrating its third birthday as the official charity for this year's Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. Twenty one servicemen and women, thirteen of whom have been profoundly wounded, some sustaining loss of limbs, will be competing at the event with the charity. Many of them have never been on a yacht before, let alone raced competitively but AAM Cowes Week is a crucial part of their rehabilitation programme.

Serving Royal Engineer and Racing Director, Lloyd Hamilton, is one of the original volunteers with Toe in the Water and was recently awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his hard work and dedication to the charity. Like many of the team in Cowes, Lloyd has just returned from a six month operation tour of duty in Afghanistan.

"Camaraderie and team work is something deeply rooted in anyone who serves their country. Toe in the Water embodies this ethos returns them back to the team environment, often for the first time since getting injured. Its difficult to explain the emotions involved in watching them arrive for the sailing on the first day and the difference a week later, when every single one of them has a new perspective on life and new found direction by being reminded what they are capable of. They realise that they can get on with their lives."

Pete Hayward, is returning to Cowes Week having been introduced to the regatta last year with Toe in the Water. "It is great to be back, come rain or shine I want to be here every year." Commented Pete. "Last year, I had very little mobility in my right leg but my biggest fear wasn't injury, it was letting down my team mates. This year, I intend to improve my technical ability. It will be the first time for a lot of the guys and girls and after a few practice sails we are all finding our own level and really loving it. As far as the racing goes, we don't want any favours from the competition but would love to share a pint with them afterwards."

Toe in the Water has a dedicated team of volunteers who work alongside the injured servicemen and women, including solo, round the world sailors, Dee Caffari MBE and Brian Thompson both of whom are ambassadors for Toe in the Water. Dee and Brian will be sailing all week with the team.

"I look forward to this event every year, in particular when I have the opportunity to race with Toe in the Water." Smiled Dee Caffari. "Competing with these extraordinary guys gives me a real buzz and it is amazing to see how these injured novices develop into competitive sailors in such a short space of time. Professional sailing can become very intense and a lot of the time I am out on the ocean on my own. Sailing with Toe in the Water is very special to me and I'm really proud to be an Ambassador for them."

Racing Director Lloyd Hamilton also commented "I would like to thank Tony Langley for donating his Farr 45 ‘Atomic' to Toe in the Water for AAM Cowes Week. Toe in the Water will also be racing three J80s – Big Toe, Little Toe and Tip Toe.

We are immensely proud to be the Official Charity, it signifies a milestone for us, a birthday and a homecoming."

"Everyone knows that Cowes Week isn't just about the sailing. It is no different for Toe in the Water; we are very excited about our shoreside activities as well as our racing. The big party of the week will be the ‘Crew Curry Night', held at Shepherds Wharf on Wednesday 10th August, with a special limited edition ‘Toe in the Water Ale' brewed by Island Ales available from the Toe in the Water Crew Bar. Chefs from the Queens Own Gurkha Logistics Regiment will be providing the food and a whole host of team games." Said Tanya Brookfield, founder of the charity.

For more information visit www.toeinthewater.org