Ladies Who Launch 2010

Ladies who Launch was inspired by the brave women who take to the seas, both solo and as part of a crew.  Ellen McArther, Dee Caffari and Helen Tew have shown that women can hold their own against competitors as well as the elements.  Many other women support their clubs, partners, and families in a range of nautical activities at a variety of levels.  Ladies who Launch celebrates what women contribute to sailing.

In June 2002, 5 yachts belonging to members of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club with all female crews crossed from Lymington to Cherbourg raising sponsorship for Leukaemia Busters.  The 2010 Challenge targets the charity Help for Heroes (look here).

The 2010 Challenge

Whitsun Weekend was chosen for the 2010 Launch to sail from Lymington to Cherbourg.  Our female flotilla of 9 boats faced a foul forecast; some slipped away before the gale struck the Solent: others waited it out.  Both fleets faced heavy seas, strong winds and ailing crews but with determination and growing confidence in their sea(wo)manship skills, they all successfully arrived in Cherbourg, full of pride in their endeavour. The drive to justify their sponsor's faith in their effort inspired them and each felt she had earned the support their many sponsors had proffered.

Press cuttings

• Read all about it in MOTOR BOATS AND YACHTING!  Angela Rice, aka MBY's Reluctant Boating Wife, writes about her crossing in Laurella Jo. (Sept edition, on the shelves from 2nd August).  Any MBY readers wishing to donate to H4H, just click on the Donate button above, which will take you to our Just Giving site. Please leave your email address for an acknowledgement and add MBY as a comment
• To download Nellie's article in Surrey Advertiser, click here
• To download BluQube's artical in All At Sea, click here

To follow us on Twitter, click here and search for RSYCLWL.

Celebration Dinner - Saturday 4th September

Crews will reunite and tally their sponsorship totals in their bid to earn the Mary Cowtan-Dinnick trophy for the crew which has provided the most sponsorship for Help for Heroes out of the impressive total amassing so far.  It is a win/win celebration.  We are delighted to be able to contribute to such a worthy and topical cause, while finding out just what true grit we girls have got to offer!

For information and pictures from the 2002 event, click here

Contact us at ‘ladieswholaunch@live.co.uk' to express your interest or any other queries you may have

For further information,

contact Laurie Bates at

Click here to email Ladieswholaunch

or the Royal Southampton

YachtClub at

rsyc@rsyc.org.uk

The Mary Cowtan-Dinnick award will be presented to the boat with the highest sponsorship total