Malcome Collins and Helix |
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| Started to sail on a wooded plank on the grass in my back garden when I was about 7 years old. Imagining I was on the way to a desert island. The first sailing in real boats started in a dinghy, then a Westerly Centaur on Lock Ness, then a Flotilla in Turkey 25 years ago. A few yachting courses, theory and practical. Charters in the med. A force 11 in the Bay of Biscay and I wake up one morning and find myself 52 years old owning a “Twister” named “Helix” that was bought to sail across the Atlantic. The JAC 08 was exactly what "I didn't know I was looking for". I have a great wife who supports me all the way and 4 fantastic sons all of which can sail. My wife is hoping to join me in the Azores for a holiday. Brett my eldest is going to help me sail to Plymouth with the further help of my brother Terry (To give some comic relief). My second eldest Darren would like to sail back from the Azores with me. “Helix” was built in 1967 for Chris Attlee, the nephew of Clement Attlee, one of our past Prime Ministers. She is a fractional rig (the only one) Twister 28 with the tallest mast of any Twister. I have been installing all new instruments, chain plates, rigging, windvane etc. etc. and probably still will be on the start line. My wife thinks I’ll need to tow a barge with all the bits. I think like many other competitors, getting to the start line is a major part of the challenge. I have to sail from Blyth near Newcastle upon Tyne. The challenge will help me to raise money for a fantastic charity, St Oswald’s Children’s Service which helps and cares for children with terminal illnesses and also gives breaks from care for the parents. As “Single Handed Ocean Sailing” is a very selfish thing to do, this will help me with the “shame of it all” Any one can visit the Just Giving website by using the following link helixchallenge I’m looking forward to meeting other competitors and seeing the yachts in the race. If anywhere near the number that have applied compete it will be quite a spectacle. |
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