Island Businesses And Media Take To The Water For UKSA World Boating Day Challenge

Teams from across the Isle of Wight's business and media community took to the Solent as UKSA hosted a special sailing challenge to mark World Boating Day.

Representatives from Burgess, Island Echo and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce gathered at UKSA's Cowes campus for a friendly J80 racing event celebrating the Island's maritime heritage and the opportunities available through sailing and watersports.

After safety briefings and on-the-water instruction from UKSA staff, participants headed out onto the Solent for a day of racing in sunny conditions.

Island Echo's crew included Darren Toogood, Carl Atkinson-Goffe, James Rann and Mackenzie Whittaker, while the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce team featured Richard Winter, Carl Joyce, Amber Beard and Lucy Johnson.

The Chamber team ultimately claimed victory following a closely contested afternoon on the water.

Darren Toogood, Editor and Publisher of Island Echo, said:

"It was a fantastic opportunity to get out on the water and experience first-hand the teamwork and skill involved in sailing on the Solent.

"We thoroughly enjoyed the friendly competition and cannot thank UKSA enough for the opportunity - they even managed to arrange fantastic weather for us."

Island Echo's Tottenham Hotspur supporting sports fanatic, Carl Atkinson-Goffe, was among those taking part, helping his team tackle the challenges of racing on the Solent as they gained hands-on experience aboard the J80 yachts.

Cat Dixon, Chief Executive of UKSA, said the event highlighted the opportunities available through sailing and the wider maritime sector.

She said:

"World Boating Day is about celebrating the opportunities that being on the water can create.

"At UKSA, we're passionate about helping people of all ages and backgrounds discover the water, build confidence, develop skills and access meaningful careers."

The event forms part of UKSA's ongoing work to introduce more people to watersports and maritime careers through training, education and community programmes based at its Cowes campus.