LADIES WELL AND TRULY LAUNCHED!

Nine yachts made up the Ladies Who Launch fleet and on Friday, 29th May they were ready to take on the Channel Challenge bid for H4H. So did a gale. A series of lows blew out of the Atlantic and while five of the nine yachts tried to outsmart the gale and leave for Cherbourg early, the others went into Lymington Yacht Haven to wait for a more favourable forecast. Three of the first five returned to relieve their very unhappy crews from the angry seas and angrier winds while two of the team, BluQube and Laurella Jo battled on to arrive in Cherbourg before noon the next day.

With winds in the Solent of up to 25 kts on the nose, the other boats decided to wait out the worst of the predicted storm which blew through Saturday with a vengeance. White Heather found a window on Friday night and left in the dark to arrive by lunchtime Saturday. By Sunday the worst of the storm had blown through and without the pelting rain or fearsome winds, Aquarius Ventures, Ear to Eternity, Mollie, Crossjack and and Nooka slipped out through the Needles at 0400h and thumped into the heavy swell left over after the storm in a friendlier but still strong 15 to 18 knots.

In what turned into a demanding but extremely fast crossing, all the boats arrived in Cherbourg by 1700h. The stories of mal de mer, sail triming, course setting and watch keeping will keep us busy for quite a while, but it was certainly felt that every penny of the sponsorship was fully earned in the event. The primary motivation on everyone’s part was to do justice to the sponsor’s generosity and not let the donations down.

A final reckoning for the totals will be assessed for a dinner on September 4th, when the winner of the Mary Cowtan-Dinnock Trophy will be announced. This is for the crew which has earned the most sponsorship for Help for Heroes.

Ladies Who Launch originated as a celebration of women’s contribution to sailing, from fixing the tea and sandwiches, hoisting the fenders and keeping up spirits and holding the helm in all sorts of conditions to the round the world stars of Dee Caffari and Ellen Macarthur. This event has shown what happens when you provide the opportunity to face challenges and unleash the power within us all. The collective pride everyone felt on arrival in Cherbourg was a tribute to the energy and determination of all participants and it has been an absolute joy to be a part of that spirit!

Thanks so very much to everyone who has been a part of this and thanks especially to those sponsors and supporters who provided the wind beneath our wings (with apologies for the cliché).

Laurie Bates

For more information on the Ladies Who Launch, please visit www.ladieswholaunch.org.uk