Sail for Charity

Iain Bartlett-Massey
Qualified as a commercially endorsed yachtmaster, Iain has been sailing since age 12 aboard a variety of vessels worldwide. Owner of his own Beneteau First, Iain has also done many boat deliveries in the Med as well as around UK and Europe. A newcomer to the Sail For Charity crew in 07 Iain is again up the challenge that Cowes Week 08 will throw at him.

Greg Conary
Pictured here on the rail with Karen Crosland during Cowes '06 training. A sailor for over 25 years Greg has a wealth of experience in a variety of races, both here in the UK as well as over in USA. Having sailed in Cowes Weeks in previous years, and even though his own boat is now resident in the UK, Greg is looking forward to the excitment of being part of the Sail for Charity Team again in 2008.

Andy Crosland
After starting dinghy sailing about 12 years ago Andy has progressed to keelboats, and now a Day Skipper and part way to being a yachtmaster, has enjoyed various cruising charters (West Coast of Scotland + Med) as well as sailing his own yacht for the last 5 years. After the Round the Island in 2005, and 2006, plus Cowes Week in 06 and 07 and the Beneteau Cup in 2006, Andy definitely has a taste for yacht racing and is looking forward to getting afloat for Cowes Week again this year.

Neil Cummings a newcomer to the crew in 2008 Neil brings a raft of racing experience and titles to the team. Having started sailing in 1978 his knowledge will be much in demand afloat. He is looking forward to the racing challenge of Cowes Week 08 and has stated that although he has good see legs he has a preference to stay on deck rather than head below!!

Robert Govier
A keen dinghy sailor on Lasers and Catamarans, Robert joined Sail for Charity for part of Cowes '06 and has enjoyed main trimming with us ever since. Robert is looking foward to Cowes 2008 which will come as a rest after his USA>Europe ARC delivery in Spring 08.

Andrew Holme joins Team Sail for Charity again in 08 as an experienced bowman, having spent many years crossing the Atlantic and racing closer to home in RORC races. Much time has been spent as bowman aboard Venom (Volvo 60) and with over 13,000 miles to date his sailing also includes Fastnets, ARCraces, Cowes weeks and many delivery trips. Despite his bruises in 07 he remains upbeat and excited to be with us again for the 08 challenge.

Paul Irons Paul learnt to sail when he was 7 on the River Dart in Devon. After graduating from dinghies to racing offshore, he has raced principally in and around the Solent for the past 22 years from Cowes in a variety of classes. - principally many years of enjoyment racing the popular and exhilarating Etchells 3-man keelboat, and more latterly in the Beneteau 40.7 class. A qualified Yachtmaster Offshore, Paul joined the crew at the last minute last year and is looking forward to completing the whole campaign, and hopefully going one better this year. Paul is looking forward to raising much needed funds for a worthy cause in EMT.

Matthew Mears No stranger to the sailing world Matt has been sailing for a good many years and indeed owns yachts based up in Lake District where he has competed in many winter series (fool!) and other challenges. Matt has competed in many race series both in Solent and in Scotland and is looking forward to joining the Sail For Charity crew afloat for 2008 - a surveyor by trade, he has much experienced in racing and also working with children in watersports over the past few years and is looking forward to raising the monies for charity along the way in our campaign.

Ruth Parkinson A Lancashire lass Ruth has been sailing for over 12 yrs and has done many race weeks both in Cowes and Scotland over this period. As a day job Ruth teaches in a special needs school and is looking forward to raising funds for a worthy cause at Cowes this year.

Andy Tonge
First got the bug at school dinghy sailing club, racing Mirrors and GP’s. Also a keen windsurfer, Andy's experience on board Yachts, includes skippering a Moody 26 on a family holiday on the Caledonian Canal, and sailing on Andy and Karen’s Pandora and Jaguar 27. Last year’s highlight was a week’s sailing a Pearson 40 in San Francisco (see photo!) - a new experience which Andy really enjoyed leaving San Francisco wanting more - a newcomer to Cowes week crew in 07 it's good to have him back aboard for our 08 campaign.

Emily Young
Emily has been sailing dingys since a young age, and until the age of 18 raced competitively at Bosham and Itchenor sailing clubs, first in Mirrors and then progressing into 420s. Emily first took part in Cowes Week 2005 aboard a Swan 40, and raced with the same crew again in 2006. Since starting university she hasn't been able to spend as much time on the water as she'd like, so is especially looking forward to joining Team Sail for Charity again for Cowes Week 2008 - not only for the racing side of things; Emily is proud to be part of a team which will be raising money for a really worthwhile cause.

Bob Bradford A newcomer to the team in 2008 Bob has been sailing for numerous years including having sailed around the world in 2000-2001, he brings a great wealth of experience to the team. He’s raced many different types of boat ranging from Swan 40’s to America’s Cup and in such locations as Sydney, Auckland, Valencia and also closer to home in the Solent