Royal Navy dinghy sailors ready for epic challenge

Two sailors are completing their training ahead of their bid to break their own dinghy long-distance world record by sailing from Plymouth to Scotland at the beginning of May.

Acting Petty Officer Phil Slade (Royal Navy) and MOD civilian Mark Belamarich are aiming to sail about 500 nautical miles in a Royal Navy sail training dinghy – about 200 more than their record set last year sailing from Plymouth to Portsmouth via France.

They will be making the epic challenge in a 14-ft standard training dinghy used by the Royal Navy at its sailing centre at Stonehouse Camber, Stonehouse Barracks, in Plymouth.

The ambitious voyage, from the sailing centre will not only raise awareness of dinghy sailing as a sport, especially within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, but also raise awareness and funds for the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and Bowel Cancer UK. Mark supports Bowel Cancer UK because he survived the disease and his family is living with the consequences.

Last year’s voyage of 309.25 nautical miles was recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest distance ever sailed in a double-handed dinghy.

Over the first three weeks in May, from May 1st (weather permitting), Mark (a sea survival instructor with 1 Assault Squadron Royal Marines), and Phil (from the RN/RM Sail Training Centre at Royal Marines Stonehouse) will try to break their own record sailing to Faslane, the site of a Royal Navy base.

Support Phil and Mark's 2017 record breaking attempt at 'Bosun 500 Challenge'.