The deaf crew skippered by Mark Wheatley will compete in the exclusive fundraising Le Tournoi Sailing Challenge 2006, which is a seven-day sailing challenge starting from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, France and then back there via Jersey and Guernsey. He will lead a crew consisting of

Nick Brookes, Katie Davison, Chris Ratcliffe, Robert le Mausier and Richard Weaver

to raise awareneau Sunfast 37ss of the work of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS). They will be among the fleet of some 40 Jeanne’ yachts in the Coutts Round Jersey race, battling anti-clockwise round the island, against prevailing wind and tides. The challenge will then continue onwards to Guernsey and then back across the Channel to the finish line in Portsmouth. It will start on 26th September and finish on 5th October 2006.

Skipper Mark Wheatley, company director of Red Lizard based in Redditch, Worcestershire, a graphic design house that specialises in accessible design explains why he is involved in the event:

"I have been profoundly deaf since birth and have been sailing for many years. I love getting out on the water and Le Tournoi should be a fantastic challenge. I hope that the deaf children and young people the NDCS works with will see what we are doing and realise that they can pursue any goal they want. Deafness does not need to hold you back."

Organisers of Le Tournoi have kindly provided the NDCS with the yacht to compete in, and the funds will be denoted to the Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled (JSAD) and the Jersey Society for Deaf Children and Young Adults (JDCS)

It is interesting to note that Tracey Watson, a hard of hearing from Jersey, and Jayne Wilson, a member of the organising committee of Le Tournoi, will replace Nick Brookes and Robert Le Mausier, also deaf from Jersey, on the last two Legs whilst some other members of JDCS will replace four of them in the Coutts Round Jersey race.

For the first time in any sailing event, all the competitors will take part in the basic sign language and the deaf awareness seminars during a team building workshop before they leave Portsmouth.

Please browse the Le Tournoi Sailing Challenge 2006 at www.letournoi.org and at www.jdcs.org.je

Ruth Marrison of Oxford, who is deaf, will be competing in Skandia Cowes Week 2006. Her crew-members are: Katie Davison, hard of hearing from Caterham, Surrey, Julia Brett, hearing from Oxford, and Ruth’s coach Richard Beardsley, hearing from Oxford.

The four of them will be competing in the Sonar fleet after receiving financial help from The National Deaf Children’s Society. International Sonar is sailed in 12 counties by disabled and non-disabled sailors of all abilities. The NDCS has supported the World Disabled Championships in Cardiz 1999, Sydney Paralympics 2000, World Disabled Championships in St Petersburg in 2001 and Medemblik in 2002.

Please browse Ruth's article on the deaf awareness campaign through sailing

Chris Broughton, the only deaf crew member in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race, is obvious delighted when his yacht, Dunbar, came second in the Leg 5 after crossing across the North Pacific from Qingdao (China) on 8th April 2006 to Victoria (Canada) on 6th May 2006.

Dunbar's second finishing position earns a second overall race position after Race 7, which clearly boasts Chris and his crew aboard the yacht, and they earns the rewards and the congratulation from the British Columbia Prime Minister, Gordon Campbell.

For the race and crew details, please browse the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race website at www.clipper-ventures.co.uk

Last year's Tsunami Surf Relief Day witnessed the surf community getting together to run events on beaches throughout the country, raising over £10,000 in the process. Throughout 2005, willing teams and individuals organised surf contests, surf and art auctions, t-shirt painting stands, scrathcards and film shows and the resulting proceeds have totalled over £36,000.

Tunami Surf Relief UK (TSRUK), the organisation that helped co-ordinate the UK surfing communities’ response to the Asian Tsunami of Boxing day 2004, plans to extend the programme this year by inviting some deaf youngsters to learn how to surf.

The organisers announces that Surf Relief Day 2006 will take place on 8th April 2006 and organisers are working on exciting plans that offer a multitude of ways for everyone to get involved. The weekend will see a first-of-its-kind Surf Auction Contest, the first ever UK Surf and Boardsports Car Boot Sale, a nail-biting Bodyboarding Dual and huge surf clothing sale.

Please browse the Surf Relief Press Release or Surf Relief - Surfable Project or visit the website at www.tsunamisurfrelief.co.uk

For further information, please contact Rhona Gardiner on Rhona@excessenergycomms.com or 07740 410052