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Mayflower Marina Supports
Young Sailor in Emotional Challenge. Plymouth’s Mayflower
Marina is supporting a young sailor in his bid to become the
youngest person to sail single-handed across the English Channel.
Oliver Hancox, from Devon, is just 15 but a keen sailing enthusiast.
After losing his father to cancer last year, Oliver wanted
to undertake a challenge which would raise both money and
awareness for Cancer Research, but also make his father proud.
His father, Neil Hancox, was the first person to windsurf
across the English Channel in the 1980's and undertaking a
similar challenge seemed, to Oliver, a fitting way to remember
him.
Oliver will be undertaking an intensive eight week training
programme with his safety boat; before the harsh effects of
winter set in. The voyage itself is planned for May 2010.
His boat will remain berthed in Mayflower Marina free of charge
throughout the training period with the money instead being
donated to Cancer Research.
Oliver
will be sailing the 115 miles from Plymouth to Roscoff in
a five metre, Silhouette Mk II Hurley. The boat, named Cariad,
was carefully restored over the summer to prepare for the
challenge.
Charles
Bush, Managing Director of Mayflower Marina, commented: “Oliver
is incredibly brave to even think of sailing across the Channel
alone at the age of 15. The fact that he is raising money
for Cancer Research, in the name of his late father, made
it impossible for us not to support him in some small way.
We will be providing him with free berthing throughout the
duration of his training, allowing this money to instead be
given to the charity. We really do wish him the very best
in his quest and remain confident that his passion and determination
will see him through to Roscoff.”
Oliver added: “This is one of the most important things
I have ever done. I hope to raise £10,000 for Cancer
Research, as well as boost awareness of the charity and its
work. Cancer affects so many people and I think this is why
the support I am seeing is already so strong. My Dad always
loved adventure and this seems to have been passed down to
me too. I am a little scared, but also incredibly excited
and pleased that I can do my bit to help people in the future.”
www.mayflowermarina.co.uk
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