Practical Boat Owner – May 2018

Giles Fletcher

L

ast year, he raced to
Scotland in his RS Aero,
sailing from Land’s End to
John o’Groats.
Now Ken Fowler is preparing
for a new adventure – to sail
around all of the islands in
England and Wales.
So far, the air traffic controller
has identified more than 145
to visit when he starts in April.
“While doing the Race to
Scotland I really regretted
every day that I had to go on
and I couldn’t stop and
explore more because of the
time constraints,” stated
Fowler, who said this, and his
desire to continue to raise
money for two charities –
Cancer Research UK and the
Oakhaven Hospice Trust in
Lymington – are the
motivations for his challenge.
For the purposes of the
adventure, Fowler has defined
an island as “a land mass
permanently visible at high
tide and at least 30 metres
long”.
This means that the Solent
forts make it onto the passage
plan. Inland islands will also

be included such as Lady

Holme and Belle Island in the

Lake District.

“The most remote islands I

will be going to will be the

Isles of Scilly. To do this, I am

hoping friends with a boat will

sail alongside me so I have

somewhere to sleep and get a

change of clothes,” noted

Fowler, who believes it will

take him up to two years to

finish his Yodare challenge,

named after his dinghy, Yoda.

“I am not a professional

adventurer, although it would

be lovely to do that, so I am

leaving this challenge

open-ended so not to put

pressure on myself as I found

with Race to Scotland that once

you put too much pressure on

yourself you start to bend how

you view the safety.”

While waiting for a shoulder

injury to heal, Fowler is

currently researching the

islands he plans on visiting

and is also hoping others will

join him on some of his

adventures.

He can be followed via

Facebook at GoYodare.

E

ntries are now
open for ARC
Channel Islands,
which will feature a
new route for 2018
starting from
Dartmouth.
The ‘South West
Edition’, which runs
from 11-19 August
2018, aims to give
West Country sailors the
chance to expand their

cruising

horizons. A

social

programme as well as boat

safety checks, passage-

planning guidance and a

skippers’ briefing will be

held at Darthaven Marina

before the start. Dartmouth

Yacht Club is also supporting

the event, which is limited to

25 boats.

Places are available on a first

come, first served basis.

“ARC Channel Islands has

increased confidence in our

sailing abilities,” noted

Geoffrey Higginbottom, who

took part in the 2017 edition

For 2018, the rally will make

landfall after the Channel

crossing at Guernsey, and

Jersey will be included in the

route before the ARC heads

back across the Channel

from Alderney.

Traditionally, the ARC

Channel Islands follows the

South Central route, which

departs from Gosport and

stops at Cherbourg, as well as

other ports.

The World Cruising Club,

which organises the ARC, now

plans to alternate the route

every other year.

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WINDLASSES, CAPSTANS, ANCHORS,

BOW ROLLERS AND ACCESSORIES

Sailing the English and Welsh islands

Ken Fowler plans to start

his challenge in April.

ARC Channel Islands is

limited to 25 boats

For the first time,

the rally will start

from Dartmouth

New route

for ARC

Channel

Islands