Joey sets a sailing challenge to raise funds for Children in Need

ONE West Highland Yachting Week yacht cutting a mark with a difference will be Tangle O’The Isles. Raced by Joey Gough, Tangle - a First 32s5 - will not only be competing in Class 5 but raising awareness of a forthcoming challenge and fund-raising for a great cause. The graphics on Tangle’s hull outline the aim of the challenge – sailing continuously Round Mull for a period in November. Joey Gough, a member of Oban Sailing Club and Royal Highland Yacht Club is an experienced Argyll sailor having raced all over the world. He has enlisted four similarly experienced local sailors to raise funds for BBC Children in Need 2019 and plans to sail non-stop around the island of Mull coinciding with the fund-raising spectacular in November. The Tangle team will start when the BBC Children’s RickShaw Challenge commences and circumnavigate the island non-stop till the end of the Rickshaw Challenge on November 15. The current start date is assumed to be November 10 but will be decided by the BBC in September. Joey said: ‘No-one sails on the west of Scotland in November for fun and especially not at night. These are tricky waters to navigate and the weather can be extremely challenging at this time, potentially cold, wet and uncomfortable. This is going to be a tough six or so days and nights. Despite the experience of the crew, or perhaps because of the experience of the crew we know this will be a real challenge. But we’re doing it to earn your sponsorship – and every penny will go to Children in Need, which is such a worthwhile cause. Please give generously – we have a JustGiving site set up via our web page www.tangleotheisles.com ’ Joey added: ‘We have already decided on the upper limits of extreme weather where we would shelter as required. The boat is fully kitted out for offshore sailing and the sailing challenge will be carried out with safety uppermost in our minds.’ During the Challenge, the team will be regularly streaming video reports accessible via the website and Tangle o’the Isles will be trackable on AIS. A raft of supporter has already given help in kind to get the challenge off the ground. Oban based Pole Position has built the website and will offer software support, CGL (Oban) has printed posters and flyers advertising the challenge and Navigators and General are supporting with an Insurance extension. Creran Marine has donated an additional launch and recovery and Dunstaffnage Marina will provide free berthing before and after the event Oban based Art and Sea donated by providing the graphics on Tangle outlining the challenge details and PFM Pictures have given free use of photographs for publicity purposes. Finally the Bank of Scotland has provided a free of charge account for the Challenge to use. There is more information at www.tangleotheisles.com where you can sponsor and a Facebook page to follow progress on the challenge. For any individual queries contact the team at rickshawsailingchallenge@tangleotheisles.