April 2009

Could YOU be on board? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for an amateur to race alongside pro crews in an event with all the exhilaration of a Formula 1 grand prix!

On 9 August, the crew of Polar Bear will take on one of the most physically and mentally demanding yachting challenges in the world: the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race.

The two sponsors, People First Group and Foretel, have brought together the vessel, the crew, and two major ambitions: to have a thumping good race, and to raise money for two charities close to the sponsors’ hearts.

The Rolex Fastnet Race
From just 7 participants in 1925, the race has now grown to welcome over 250 yachts from all over the globe. Recognised as one of the world’s yachting classics and a real ‘must-do’ for serious sailors, the Fastnet Race isn’t for the faint-hearted. Ever-changing weather and tidal conditions make this a tricky challenge: in 1979, storms took the lives of 17 competitors. Participation demands skill, courage and endurance.

The vessel
For this race, the sponsors have selected Polar Bear, a robust 72-foot yacht usually employed for Arctic expeditions. While perhaps not the most nimble boat in the race, she has enough advantages of stability and endurance to have a chance of going all the way. Polar Bear (previously named Aviva) is certainly up for a challenge: Dee Cafrey skippered her when she became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe—against prevailing winds and currents—in 2006. Polar Bear has already sailed around the world three times, and is built to withstand the most ferocious seas and weather conditions.

The crew
The 18-strong crew includes:

• Two skippers (for alternate watches), both Yachtmaster instructors with experience of two previous Fastnet races and thousands of ocean miles behind them.


• Paul Rose (explorer and presenter of the BBC TV series Ocean), who will be recording a video diary for use by Earthwatch and possibly the BBC.


• The boat’s owners, a father and son who regularly take Polar Bear on expedition charters into tough Arctic waters.


• The two co-sponsors: Bill Holt, managing director of Foretel, and Mark Styles, CEO of People First Group—both very experienced sailors.


• Two novice sailors, including Steve Plew’s, managing director of Ackrill Newspapers and a trustee of Martin House Children’s Hospice.


• 8 experienced yachtsmen


• Our competition winner will be the final crew appointment—could that be you?!

The competition
In a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, one place on Polar Bear’s crew is up for grabs—but you’ll have to hurry! Bids close on 30 April 2009. Worth £3,000 on any other boat (this is Polar Bear, remember!), and with a reserve price of £1,500, this position in the crew will go to the highest bidder—helping to raise much-needed funds for our nominated charities. Place your bid. www.fastnetchallenge.org.uk

The prize
The experience will include acclimatisation and a qualifying sail from Newcastle to Cowes on 2 August 2009. Arriving at Cowes around 5 August, the crew will make last-minute preparations as well as enjoying the atmosphere of Cowes Week, living on board and right among the action. The start of the Fastnet race is the grand finale of Cowes Week, and a rare opportunity for amateurs to race alongside professional crews. All food on board and race entry fees are included, so the only additional cost will be getting to and fro the boat and on-shore entertainment.

(The skippers reserve the right to reject a bid, following an interview, if the safety of the applicant or the rest if the crew could be compromised.)

The route
The 608-mile race will set sail from Cowes, heading west through the English Channel, past Lands End and across the Irish Sea to round the Fastnet Lighthouse Rock. Then it’s back across the Irish Sea, with Bishop Rock lighthouse (on the south side of the Scilly Isles) to port as we head for the finish at Plymouth and great celebrations, however we’re placed

The charities
The two charities which will benefit from the auction are Martin House Children’s Hospice www.martinhouse.org.uk (near Wetherby, West Yorkshire) and Earthwatch, www.earthwatch.org an international environmental charity committed to conserving the diversity and integrity of life on earth