For the third year running, Aberdeen Asset Management (AAM) Cowes Week was another huge success for Official Charity, UKSA.
The week got off to a fantastic start thanks to UKSA Ambassador and world-renowned sailor Dee Caffari MBE officially launching the charity’s Women into Sailing careers programme on ‘Charity Monday’. The programme will promote and encourage a greater number of women to pursue a professional career within sailing and the wider maritime sector. To mark the launch of the programme Dee spent the day sailing with an all-women crew and guests from UKSA during the world famous regatta.
Dee Caffari also took part in racing one of UKSA’s flagship Farr 65s in the ever-competitive Class 0. Dee joined UKSA’s Young Ambassador, Danieka Jerram whose life had been transformed by UKSA, on board the charity’s yachts for the thrilling day of racing in near-perfect conditions on the Solent.
Try Sailing’ also returned ensuring the Cowes Week on the water experience was accessible to all. 384 took part in this initiative throughout the course of the week and, thanks to the favourable conditions on the water, everyone on board had a great time, and the profile of the charity was immeasurably increased.
Family Day on Sunday 7th August saw all ages take to the water for the WightFibre Cardboard Boat Race. 11 teams took to the water in their homemade boats, drawing huge crowds on Cowes Parade and providing the perfect family fun spectacle for participants and spectators alike.
Ben Willows, Chief Executive of UKSA said:
“Thanks to the generosity of those attending AAM Cowes Week we are pleased to announce the fundraising total is £68,700 This will allow UKSA to provide transformational and life changing opportunities to many young people and to invest in the site to continue to offer the world class facilities bringing amazing outcomes.
“To be the Official Charity to AAM Cowes Week is a huge honour. As a charity which uses the power of the sea to make a difference to young people’s lives, what better way to do it than at the world’s most famous sailing regatta.”
The week ended in a spectacular fashion with the UKSA Charity Auction raising an amazing £14,000. During the course of the on-line auction, members of the public were bidding on items that included a day’s sailing for six with Team Concise and a 7 night holiday from Kuoni for two people at the 5-star Sugar Beach Resort and Spa in Mauritius. Throughout the week raffle tickets were also sold in Cowes for the chance to win a sailing holiday with Sunsail.
