Archie Leckie and Harvey Leigh complete charity circumnavigation of Holy Island
by Chris Leigh 26 Aug 2016 05:37 NZST
23 August 2016
Archie and Harvey with their RS Feva © Chris Leigh
Junior sailors Archie Leckie and Harvey Leigh are aiming to raise £2500 for charity after successfully completing a circumnavigation of Holy Island in an RS Feva.
It was third time lucky for the friends from Leigh & Lowton SC near Manchester after their first attempt was aborted due to a lack of wind and their second proposed date for the challenge had to be postponed when an Atlantic storm blew in.
They were finally able to complete their 'round the Holy Island' adventure on Tuesday (23 August), setting off at 10am from Trearddur Bay SC, North Wales in 15 knots of wind against strong tides, sailing anticlockwise. The tide then turned to run with them as the wind dropped to a variable 0-10 knots; while they shot through the first tidal tunnel, the second required some frantic paddling against the tide.
Harvey's dad Chris said, "The wind then really dropped with god rays in the sky and fog approaching over the hills.
"It was after sunset when a party of people from Trearddur Bay SC flowed on to the rocks above the club finish line to cheer them in."
They finally made it ashore at 9pm.
Harvey said, "It was really tricky with the tides and we were running out of light but we made it! We just hope we can now reach our fundraising target.' The boys have so far raised £2300 for the RNLI and mental health charity Heads Together from a target of £2500."
To find out more or sponsor them visit their website at www.charitysail.com.