13 year old sailing inspiration, Flo Tovey, conquers sailing the Bristol Channel solo

A 13-year-old sailed single-handedly across the Bristol Channel on Saturday 18 September 2021.

Flo Tovey embarked on the challenge she had been planning over the last nine months: to sail solo across the Bristol channel crossing in her single-handed Topper dinghy.

Flo explained: "(It) is approximately 24 miles in my Topper dinghy a trip, which to everyone's knowledge has not been done before."

Flo, who is a member of the Welsh Topper sailing squad, set off from Mumbles, Swansea at 9am and arrived at Ilfracombe around 4pm. The journey raised over £4,000 for Maiden Factor Foundation, a global ambassador for the empowerment of girls through education The first time Flo's parents knew about the incredible challenge she had set herself was when Flo received an email from British sailor, Tracy Edwards MBE, after Flo had independently emailed the charity, The Maiden Factor, explaining to them that she would raise money and awareness for the charity by sailing the Bristol Channel.

In a video by The Maiden Factor charity, Tracy Edwards MBE explains, this is a "ground breaking feat: Sailing a Topper from Mumbles to Ilfracombe across the Bristol channel. We don't think it's ever been done before, and this will be an absolutely fantastic record."