News - 2014

12:30 Monday 21 Jul 2014 Sue PellingUKSA embrace Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week as official charity

UKSA, the charity providing transformational opportunities to young people through sailing and watersports, plans to make a huge impact at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week during its first year as the event’s official charity. One of its key aims is to raise enough funds to offer every Year 6 primary school child on the Island (a total of 1,600 children) the opportunity to experience water-based sports with UKSA.

To kick-start the fund-raising initiative Aberdeen Asset Management will be donating £1 every time a racing boat passes the Aberdeen Alpha mark for a start or finish.

In an effort to reach their fund-raising target, UKSA is running a series of attractions including the ‘open to all’ sailing sessions, which offer an hour’s sailing tuition with UKSA instructors aboard one of its three keelboats each day between 9.30am and 6pm, for just £5. Those who want to book a place should head to the UKSA area at Cowes Yacht Haven where the official event ‘must have’ wristband can also be purchased for a £1 charitable donation, providing a lasting reminder to visitors of their time at the world’s best-known regatta.

Keep an eye out also for two of UKSA’s Farr 65 yachts out racing every day with a selection of celebrity skippers Including Paralympic gold medallist sailor Helena Lucas and Britain’s London 2012 Olympic Bronze medallist women’s hockey player Alex Danson, along with some of the youngsters who have transformed their lives through UKSA. On Tuesday 5 August, HRH The Princess Royal will be out sailing with UKSA too.

The ‘Boss up a Mast’ fundraising spectacle, which is taking place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings, is also likely to be a big hit.  UKSA will moor one of its Farr 65s in the Yacht Haven to make it highly visible for spectators to watch senior executives, locked into a Spinlock Mast-Pro harness, raised 100ft to the top of the mast. The idea is that the boss can only come down once they have urged their contacts (via mobile phone) to pledge donations to UKSA. Visitors are also encouraged to #masterthemast. In return for a small donation, UKSA are offering the opportunity to climb the mast of the iconic Gipsy Moth IV, which will be moored in the Yacht Haven each day from 11.30am until 2pm.

Gutter boat racing in the UKSA marquee all week is looking likely to be one of the most popular fund-raising events. Teams of competitors, spectators, businesses and the local community are invited to post a challenge either with ready-made gutter boats available for charter or by designing and building their own gutter boat using any material. The only specification is that the gutter boat must fit within the dimensions of an A5 piece of paper (to fit in the guttering). A Top Gear style scoreboard will keep a record of the leaders.

CEO Richard Thornton commented: “We are extremely proud and excited to be chosen as the new Cowes Week official charity. The core values of UKSA fit seamlessly with Cowes Week: challenge on the water while also having fun. We have a range of exciting activities planned for the regatta, designed to promote inclusivity for all. We want to show that sailing is more than just a hobby; it is a catalyst that transforms people’s lives.”

For more information on: www.uksa.org.  For more information on the daily events taking place at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, take a look at the entertainments schedule.