Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Ken Fowler begins Yodare Challenge to reach £50,000 charity total

by Sarah Desjonqueres 7 Apr 2019 09:18 PDT
Ken Fowler's Yodare Challenge begins © Giles Fletcher

He views his next challenge as dealing with "unfinished business"; the niggling matter of a charity pot not quite filled during his previous sailing escapades, but whether it is as simple as that or something more complex, Dorset husband and father Ken Fowler is once more driven push the boundaries of dinghy sailing.

Not content with his award-winning epic sailing adventure in his tiny lightweight dinghy, Yoda, all the way from Land's End to John O'Groats two years ago and raising £37,000, the sailor and adventurer is back at the helm and taking on yet another challenge.

Ken's latest 'dizzy' exploit will see him attempt to sail 1,200 miles around 183 islands dotted all over England and Wales. Over the next two years, Ken will face the familiar dangers of single handed dinghy sailing miles off shore, along with the fresh challenges of negotiating 49 ft tidal ranges in the Bristol Channel and the incredibly shallow mudflats of the east coast of Britain.

The first sailor to ever take on this challenge, Ken has set himself this massive task in order to raise funds for Oakhaven Hospice and Cancer Research and finally reach the £50k target he set during his Race To Scotland journey in 2017. He says, "Cancer patients don't get to give up and neither will I. Oakhaven Hospice is so brilliant and so caring, I just want to match that dedication and give something back."

With 12 islands already under his belt, he has already encountered dense fog, a bridge so low he had to capsize the boat to get underneath it and fast receding tides nearly leaving him marooned on mud flats. As Ken takes on the more coastal islands, he will have to face the bigger dangers of giant over falls and wild coastal launching and landing sites with long days in the boat. Nothing he has not done before.

There are a couple of particular islands he is keen to tick off the list, most notably Lundy. After being 'assisted' by Tenby RNLI during his previous adventure, Ken hopes to return and conquer the island in early August. Our sea sailor is also very taken by the idea of sailing round the 14 islands of Windermere. With no tides, shallow bits, bridges, surf, whirlpools or shipping lanes to deal with it will almost feel like a pleasure cruise. Excitingly, he is also hoping to be joined by the Junior AB fleet of Parkstone Sailing Club on 19th May who intend to escort him around a few of the islands in Poole Harbour including Brownsea Island, Furzey island, Green island, Long island, Round Island, Giggers Island.

Top of the island list however lies at the very tip of England. The Scillies have always been on his 'to do list' in life and reflecting on this Ken says "The pictures of the Isles of Scilly look more like the Caribbean than the UK and with that many stunning islands and beaches it will be a dinghy island sailors dream - weather permitting!" Hopefully, he will get his wish as he heads off to meet this challenge in mid-May of 2020.

Ken is supported in his challenge by an array of kind sponsors, Rooster, Overboard, Morgan Sails and Zest boatworks have kitted him out and set the boat up, Grapefruit and Wolfden creative have covered Yoda in artwork and built the website www.yodare.co.uk, SolRX, Halcyon Yachts and ICOM have made sure he won't burn in the sun or get lost with no contact and and YB tracking have provided him with a full live tracker so that we can follow his journey on the 'Where's Ken' button on his website.

Ken hopes to complete the task by summer 2020, making the last island he sails around a return to the location of his first ever sailing adventure, and the closest island to home, the Isle of Wight. He hopes that, unlike arriving at John O'Groats after his gruelling 35 days with only his support team of two waiting for him, he can arrive back in Mudeford Harbour triumphant and fall exhausted into the embrace of his family. The icing on the cake of course, would be to have reached that £13,000 target (thus £50,000 in total).

Follow Ken's journey via his website www.yodare.co.uk or on twitter @goyodare or via Facebook Yodare.

Related Articles

Time to nerd out a bit
Possibly a big bit, as it turns out. Historically we know I am up for it, but how about you? Possibly a big bit, as it turns out. Anyway, historically we know I am up for it, but how about you? Right oh. Unequivocally, the greater electrification space is not just THE hot topic presently, it also changes at a prodigious rate. Posted on 3 Apr
Nautically inspired jewellery from Angela Lago
Beautifully made nautical-inspired jewellery There's something we all seem to share as true lovers of the sea—especially those of us drawn to the nautical world. It's a deep connection with authenticity, nature, and the undeniable pull of freedom. Posted on 2 Apr
Maritimo M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht Reveal Trailer
Maritimo M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht, a masterpiece that seamlessly combines luxury and innovation Discover the allure of the Maritimo M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht, a masterpiece that seamlessly combines luxury and innovation. Drawing inspiration from Maritimo's flagship models, this yacht offers a unique blend of elegance and functionality. Posted on 1 Apr
Marine Auctions: April Online Auctions
Bavaria 32 sailing yacht, Williams 36 motor cruiser and much more Up for auction: Bavaria 32 sailing yacht, Williams 36 motor cruiser, Mustang 2800 powerboat, Cobalt 243 cuddy cabin, Monterey 270 cruiser, Arber 9 sailing catamaran, and much more. Posted on 1 Apr
Numarine's new flagship explorer superyacht 47MXP
A 'Mediterranean Explorer' model, with aft deck pool Numarine, the renowned builder of explorer superyachts, announces the launch of the all-new 47MXP. Posted on 1 Apr
Heesen reveals Project Agnetha
A 55m Steel Class Blue-Water Motor Yacht Heesen Yachts is delighted to introduce YN 20955, code-named Project Agnetha, to the market. Posted on 29 Mar
Tankoa Yachts reveals the new S520 model
Francesco Paszkowski design raises the game once again When success is apparent, it can be easy to rest on your laurels and stay in one place, relishing the feeling it brings. Not so for Italian shipyard Tankoa, which always keeps the needs of contemporary and future owners firmly in sight. Posted on 26 Mar
Spring launch checklist
Time-tested tips for getting your boat ready for the season Whether it's your first year or 50th, the recreational boat owner's advocacy, services and safety group, BoatUS, has help on how to start the boating season off right with its Spring Commissioning Checklist. Posted on 26 Mar
Silent Yachts launches new SY62 3-Deck Closed
The arrival continues Silent Yachts' strong start to the year It has been a busy start to the year for Silent Yachts, the Italian builder of advanced solar-powered cruising catamarans, with the launch of two new yachts from the shipyard in Fano. Posted on 26 Mar
New flagship Invictus ST550
Tradition innovation, unmistakable design The ST550, with the "S" standing for Space, marks a new frontier in spatial design, the result of the visionary creativity of designer Christian Grande. Posted on 25 Mar
Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERPalm Beach Motor Yachts