BritCAT - Round Britain circumnavigation attempt
by BritCAT Challenge 4 May 2006 11:48 BST
This June two Dorset based sailors Luke Yeates and Mark Angell will attempt a circumnavigation of mainland Britain on their 18ft Hobie Tiger catamaran © Britcat Challenge
This June two Dorset based sailors Luke Yeates and Mark Angell will attempt a circumnavigation of mainland Britain on their 18ft Hobie Tiger catamaran.
They plan to take 27 days leaving Poole Harbour on the 3rd of June and sailing eastward past Ventnor, IOW where the official World Speed Sailing Record Council, (WSSRC) will start the clock on their record attempt.If they complete the challenge they will be the first, fastest and youngest crew to sail round britain in an 18ft Catamaran.
The boat is staying relatively unchanged apart from a few long distance friendly modifications borrowed from the Tigers little brother the Hobie Pacific which will include a reefable mainsail and skiff style racks.
Luke & Mark have been training hard readying themselves for the adverse conditions they will face, including night sailing, gales, whirlpools and Atlantic swells.
Safety is of paramount concern to the team and their sponsors. The team do not have any on water support so they will have to be self sufficient whilst sailing. They will be carrying safety equipment usually seen on yachts such as Jack stays, inflatable life jackets and an EPIRB.
Luke and Mark have been racing on their Hobie Tiger for the last 6 years and have competed at many national and international events but this is their first major long distance record attempt, providing all goes well we will see the boys back in Novemeber with a new challenge.
Check out their website at www.britCAT.co.uk where you can make an online donation and view the boats position and speed along with daily diaries onboard video and photography.