simon speirs

Charities

ORBIS
ORBIS is dedicated to preserving and restoring the sight of the poorest people in the poorest communities across the world. Through innovative programmes and partnerships, ORBIS creates long-term, lasting solutions to prevent and cure blindness worldwide. We provide the tools, training and technology for local doctors and health care professionals to develop solutions to tackle avoidable blindness in their own countries. By building long-term capabilities in eye care institutions, ORBIS supports its partners in providing quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible and ultimately sustainable.
Concordis International Trust
Armed conflict destroys not only lives but also livelihoods, environment, homes, economy, schools, healthcare - and hope. Concordis International works impartially alongside those involved in or affected by armed conflict so that through dialogue they may build relationships of mutual trust and together develop and implement policies that lay firm foundations for lasting peace. Our approach enables influential representatives from all factions to come together, recognise and identify the underlying causes of their grievances and, through unthreatening, face to face dialogue backed up by objective research, find sustainable and peaceful solutions out of the cycle of violence.


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Solo round the Isle of Wight

Fundraiser: 
simon speirs

My page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/simonspeirs

Hi, thanks for visiting my page.

I fianally managed to complete my sail round the Island on 12 August after 3 or 4 false starts (one of whihch only aborted as I was doing a final check of the weather forecast on the quayside at Lymington at 5 am!).

THe combination os weather, tides and hours of daylight has been particularly tricky this year with the unsettled weather but it was vital to be p[atient as I was doing this solo, without a support boat and in boat that was not built for heavy seas.  However, at long last I managed it.  The weather was about as good as I could have hoped - ranging from becalmed (!) to a steady force 3/4 and bright but overcast skies.

It was still a mojor challenge though.  The waters around the Needles and St Catherine's Point, even at slack water (which is what I aimed for) were "interesting", and look pretty daunting when you are at (or below their level!

It took me 12 hours, which in the confimed cockpit of a racing dinghy when you are 6 foot 3 inches, is a very long time!  However I survived (a source of some relief!) but would not recommend it to anyone but the most foolhardy.

I am raising money for Orbis and Concordis International, both very deserving causes and also have an offer of matched funding.  So please help me to reach my target of £5,000 - another daunting challenge!

Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to charities. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity's behalf where the donor is eligible for this.

I really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.

Thank you

Simon

Recent donors

08.09.12 Just to take you over the top. Well done!

31.08.12 Well done, Simon! What an achievement for 2 great causes.

20.08.12 Well done! You earned it!

20.08.12 well done!

17.08.12 Wow! What an adventure!! Many congratulations

16.08.12 Amazing thing to have done Simon. I told my mate telf (who has sailed pretty much everything everywhere is a falmouth life boat crew etc etc ) and he was truly impressed........

15.08.12 Sounds bonkers...

15.08.12 Congratulations Simon - you did it! - and all in one piece!

14.08.12 Well done Simon!

14.08.12 Awesome challenge and I enjoyed the log book entry!

14.08.12 Well done Simon - sounds scary and amazing at the same time !!

14.08.12 Well done Simon. Very impressed. Love Sue and Lottie x

14.08.12

24.07.12 Good luck!

23.07.12 Third time lucky!

16.07.12 Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea........ Good luck Simon

14.07.12 Good luck and God's speed!

12.07.12 Sail like the wind (with it hopefully behind you!)

06.07.12 How was it?

04.07.12 Much more rain & you can just circumnavigate Bristol instead ! Good luck Simon !

03.07.12 Well done!

02.07.12 Hope that it went well, did you beat the Contessa 26 (which came second) around?

30.06.12 Great sailing weather for a good cause.

30.06.12 Very worthy causes, good luck!

30.06.12 Best of luck! Remember the cushion!

£4,573.38

Running total

Target:
£5,000.00
Total raised incl. Gift Aid:
£5,033.13
Total donors:
66
Biggest donor:
Jeremy & Rosemary, Katriona & Ben xx
£100.00  
Last donor:
Anonymous
08.09.12  
Offline fundraising:
£2,419.38