Before this even started there were moments of stress, the van I had booked ended up in someone else’s hands. Thankfully three days later it was mine butit meant us getting the ferry over later on Thursday than planned. Never mind because we were set up and readyto go on Friday morning after a night settling in at UKSA. The rowing machines were working and attachedto the laptop and everything was neatly presented. On the first day myself and fellow volunteer Craig Biles waited for our first customer. It turned out to be a young lad Joseph, who was quickly followed by two police men who raced against each other.

Two volunteers that joined us for the first day included Vicky and Rita. Vicky was a smart, straight,forward fun girl who was mature for seventeen. She was helping on the stand off and on over the week, I didn’t realiseuntil the Monday evening how special she really was to the Ellen Macarthur Trust. We watch from the back as Ellen and companyspoke on stage in between courses. Then Vicky was called up to help. The trusthelps to inspire young people who have been through cancer to recovery throughsailing. Vicky was originally a young person to try sailing through the trust. The way this inspirational young person carried herself you would never guess she had been through bone cancer.

Our rowing stand gained popularity throughout the week with people volunteering to row crazy amounts of distances. Thursday I had to cottend with some very competitive girls on ladies day. The prize went to lady who had last rowed over twenty years ago.

The week was coming to a close and I was close to my target of 5,503km by the end of Cowes week. One of the highlights of Cowes week is the fireworks on Friday. We had the privledge of being able to watch it from the Scarlet Oyster, the boat often used to take the children on their sailing trips. The view of the Red Arrows and the fireworks was spectacular.

Saturday came and I completed the longest of one of my challenges. It was a poignant moment because mum had become so ill at this point last year. A lot has been acheived but there is more to come.

The next on the list includes co-ordinating the Olympic handover in Southampton.