The Challenge

In July 2007 a team of three very unusual sailors will compete in the North Sea Yacht Race.  A gruelling test of sailing expertise and endurance, The North Sea Yacht Race is one of the longest and perhaps most challenging ocean races in Northern Europe – across the North Sea between Stavanger in Norway and Macduff in Scotland.

Photo: Tony Marsh

The Crew

Stuart MacDonald

Stuart, the team skipper, was born in 1960 without any fingers on his left hand, although a series of operations during childhood created for Stuart a small thumb  (a digit now vital to the team’s prospects of success!).

Never one to let disability stand in his way, Stuart has learned to make the most of the limbs that he does have, performing most everyday activities as well as anyone else, and enjoying successful careers as a therapeutic woodwork teacher and designer of therapeutic aids.

Although he has pursued a love of the mountains since the age of nineteen, Stuart’s primary passion is sailing.  With 25 years of sailing under his belt, including dinghy sailing, day racing, and many longer passages in all states of sea and weather, Stuart brings a wealth of experience to the venture, as well, of course, as the boat Mrs Chippy, which is his third yacht.

Alan Freestone

Born in 1953 in Derbyshire, Alan chose an active outdoor lifestyle from an early age and has been a keen climber, skier, ski tourer and sailor for many years.  A move to the Isle of Skye in 1991 to set up a pottery business allowed Alan to continue his pursuit of these activities and he joined the Skye Mountain Rescue Team in 1993.

Life took an unexpected turn for Alan in May 2006 when a motorcycle accident necessitated the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Undaunted Alan has made an amazingly swift recovery and throws himself with gusto into the task of reclaiming the life he had before his accident. An experienced skipper in his own right Alan is a hugely competent crew member and has completed many difficult passages including crossing the North Sea in previous years. Alan is the team’s closest answer to Long John Silver.

Jamie Andrew

In addition to all his other activities, Jamie has always been a keen sailor and has a wealth of experience exploring the islands and coastal waters of Scotland. When the call comes out, ‘All hands on deck!’, Jamie is the only crew member who can legitimately stay down below in his bunk.

The Boat

The team’s boat is co-owned by Stuart and his long-time sailing partner Toby Clark. She is called Mrs Chippy and is a 31 foot Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 311. Mrs Chippy is named after the remarkable carpenter’s cat who sailed aboard The Endurance on Shackleton’s ill-fated polar expedition of 1914.

Benefits

Challenge 3 is raising funds to help support less privileged amputees around the world. The beneficiary is a brand new charity (more details to follow soon – watch this space!) which is dedicated to improving the provision of prosthetic services and prosthetic devices to amputees in deprived or war-torn parts of the world.

Amputees such as the Angolan children pictured, depend on overseas aid for prosthetic treatment, and in a country where survival is a daily struggle, a simple prosthetic leg can mean the difference between life and death.

Sponsor us!

In order to undertake this unique event, and to raise as much money as possible for the charity, the Challenge 3 team are looking for sponsorship. It's really easy to donate. There are two ways you can do it:

1. Online. Go to the Just Giving website where you can make a donation by credit card.
2. By post. Please make cheques payable to 500 miles and send to:

500 miles
Box 500
44-46 Morningside Road
Edinburgh
EH10 4BF

To discuss corporate sponsorship please contact Jamie directly. Your support is hugely appreciated. 60% of all money raised through this appeal will go to the cause. The other 40% will go towards Challenge 3 costs.

Follow our progress at this website or at:
http://homepages.rya-online.net/mrs-chippy