News - 2012

13:47 Saturday 11 Aug 2012 Sue Pelling/CWLFamily fun aboard Elixir

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is always a popular regatta for families. Not only does this event offers top class racing but it also embraces the family spirit by encouraging families to take part.

William Garnett and his family were so keen to ensure they took part this year, they made special plans to get their boat Elixir, a Grand Soleil 43, from the Mediterranean to Cowes in time for the regatta.

Sailing with eight members of the family including wife Susannah, and two children Tobias and Amelia, his brother, son in-law, and his nephew, Garnett admits the potential for tricky moments on board, is high. “Because we all know racing with families can be tense, we have our friend Geoff Chapman as our crew boss. He is refereeing the family issue.”

Garnett says although the boat is not really designed for top-level racing, they are going to try their best to do well. They also want to enjoy the social side too. “We are going to be careful not to let the partying completely obliterate our racing.”

As well as fun and competition, the Garnett family are keen to support and raise awareness of the Haig Housing Trust’s campaign, Coming Home which helping to re-house limbless soldiers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Garnett, the family raised £2,000 for the campaign during the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. “We have a spinnaker which has a limbless soldier on it. We just want to remind people of the sacrifice that people make while we are all having fun.”