‘Ladies who Launch challenge raises over £16,500

Katie Miller & her bluQube team recall ‘Ladies who Launch’ challenge and welcome over £16,500 raised for Help 4 Heroes

bluQube, a leading vendor of financial management software and title sponsor for Katie Miller, one of the UK’s most promising young solo sailors, are proud to have taken part in the 2010 Ladies Who Launch Channel Challenge that took place at the end of May in spite of tough weather conditions. The total amount now collected in aid of the Help for Heroes charity stands at over £16,500.

bluQube’s Jane Waghorn who took part in the event together with colleague Laurie McNeill (pictured) explains how it went, after a gale forecast for the Saturday, forced them to set off a day early, “It was a bit of scramble to get everything ready in time to leave, but within an hour we had left Portsmouth and were on the open sea with 25 knot winds. It was the first time I had been sailing in weather like this; it was frightening at first because bluQube was steeply heeled, but once I realized that we were not going to tip over it became very exhilarating.”

Jane continues, “Katie was a great skipper carefully explaining what we had to do and keeping us busy winching sails and pulling ropes, I even had a chance to helm bluQube when Katie went below to check on the shipping lanes and remarkably we were still going in the right direction when she came back on deck!”

After 14 hours, the crew, tired but happy with their sense of achievement, arrived at 2am in Cherbourg.

Jane sums up her experience of the Ladies who Launch challenge, “As Katie’s sponsor it was great to be able to get involved and have a ‘hands on deck’ taste of what ocean yacht sailing is all about. Although this trip was short compared with what Katie did in the OSTAR and is currently doing in the Round Britain and Ireland Race, I have a much better understanding of the challenges she faces, such as sleep deprivation and the wonders of ‘boil in the bag’ food! Personally it was an experience I will never forget and some of the images, such as sailing into Cherbourg harbour in the still of the night with the moon hanging low on the horizon will stay with me forever.”

Event organiser Laurie Bates commented, “Awesome does not begin to cover the extent of my pride and respect for all those who accepted the Ladies Who Launch Challenge. The weather was blustery and the seas were ugly yet every boat found a window to cross to Cherbourg. Some boats left before the gale struck while others waited for it to pass. Crews were made up of seasoned sailors and novices alike and each one felt the pride of their achievement. Every penny of the now £16,500 was fully earned by the crews through their dogged determination to honour their sponsor's generosity.”

She added, “A final accounting will be calculated at a celebration dinner on 4 September by which time I'm sure the seas will have become even higher and the winds even more fearsome in the telling of our tales!”

A total of 10 boats departed from Lymington on various dates over the last May bank holiday weekend and set off through Hurst Narrows and arrived safely in Cherbourg. The fleet included Aquarius Ventures, Laurella Jo, Ear to Eternity, Nooka, White Heather, Nellie of Hythe, bluQube, Ellie, Crossjack VI and Molly II.

Further donations can still be made through Just Giving via a direct link at www.ladieswholaunch.org.uk