On Wednesday the group of French WASZP sailors, Pierre Leboucher, Mael Garnier & Corentin Horeau, took the ferry from St. Malo to Portsmouth, meeting up with their British counterparts, Hattie Rogers, Edward Higson & William Heathcote at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.
The weather systems have been analysed, the routing mapped and constantly refined, the boats rigged and checked over by Duncan Hepplewhite of SailingFast, the UK distributor of WASZP foiling dinghies, to ensure the team are in the best shape to complete the challenge safely.
The Foil for Life Challenge by Lemer Pax will see six WASPZ sailors take on the Channel, sailing between Lymington and Le Havre - a route of 103 miles and an estimated 10 hours of foiling. The sailors have trained hard to ensure they have the endurance needed for what will undoubtably be an arduous sail, but their determination to raise money for the amazing charities is spurring them forwards. The team will travel in a Covid-secure manner with a full support team on RIBs.
The team are immensely grateful to Lemer Pax for their title sponsorship of the challenge. A worldwide leader in innovation in the radiation protection sector, Lemer Pax creates, designs, and engineers efficient radiation protection solutions for healthcare, research, industry, and nuclear applications. With over 50 years of innovation, Lemer Pax exports all over the world, eco-aware and cutting edge of technology radiation protection products. The company strives for excellence to protect the most important thing: Life!
The support of Lemer Pax ensures that every single Euro and Pound raised will go to the NHS and Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP).
Donations can be made via the www.foilforlife.com website, where you can find more information about the team of sailors.
Foil for Life Challenge by Lemer Pax founder Hattie Rogers said:
"I'm so excited! I can't believe it's actually happening tomorrow as it's been a month in the planning. The French sailors are all here and ready to go and it was so cool to have the whole team together out on the water today."
French sailor Corentin Horeau said:
"I feel very happy to be here ready to cross the Channel on this very small boat! I'm a bit nervous as it'll be a day unlike any other and a big challenge. It's a very exciting moment having completed a lot of work to get where we are today."
Photos and videos will be regularly sent to social media channels, including @FoilForLife on twitter, the sailing media and news channels throughout the day of the Foil for Life Challenge by Lemer Pax. You will also be able to follow the sailors progress via YB Tracking devices on each of the boats.
Find out more...
Website: www.foilforlife.com
Twitter: @FoilForLife
Foil for Life Challenge by Lemer Pax supporters
Title Sponsor
Lemer Pax
Silver Sponsor
The Delphie Lakeman Trust, Isle of Wight
Bronze Sponsors
Andrew McIrvine, WASZP, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Le Havre Yacht Club, Royal Lymington Yacht Club
Sponsors in kind
Ocean Safety, YB Tracking, Sailing Fast, Zhik, YachtsandYachting.com & Sail-World.com