Children in Need sailing challenge
A Duror man is planning a sailing challenge this November to raise funds for Children In Need.
Joey Gough, aged 71, will skipper Oban yacht Tangle o’ the Isles with a crew of four experienced sailors continuously round the island of Mull, starting tomorrow (Friday November 8) for a week, coinciding with the duration of the BBC’s Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge.
Not only is this a huge challenge for the team, but a massive personal challenge for Joey, who is recovering from major surgery.
Since his 10-hour operation at the end of August, Joey has been working hard to regain fitness for skippering the yacht – a First 32s5. Joey had surgery and radiotherapy for cancer in 2010/11 but an unexpected level of damage from the radiotherapy led to this recent surgery. Joey, a past Commodore of Oban Sailing Club and Royal Highland Yacht Club, has raced all over the world.
Joining Joey to help boost Children in Need funds are Twig Olsen, Taynuilt;
Christine MacFarlane Slack, Ballachullish; Colin Campbell, Acharacle, and Robert Bradley, Melbourne.
In 2013, Joey and Robert won the 5,500-mile Melbourne to Osaka race, sailing in Robert’s yacht. The team aims to raise as much money as it can for the fund-raising spectacular BBC Children in Need appeal 2019.
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 will be extremely challenging, potentially cold, wet and uncomfortable. This is going to be a tough eight 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. Every penny will go to Children in Need. Please give generously. We have a JustGiving site set up via our web page www. tangleotheisles.com.’
A raft of commercial supporters have already given help in kind.