Flying the flag of Farm Africa at the Gosport Pursuit

02 June 2017

Farm Africa supporter Matthew Sleap along with a fearless crew of four will set sail aboard the Red Jacket with the goal of helping build a prosperous rural Africa.

On Sunday 10 June, the Gosport Pursuit course will see crews set off from Gosport Harbour, in hopefully favourable conditions, and make their way over approximately 25 nautical miles to the Nab Tower, a First World War era anti-submarine tower off the east coast of the Isle of Wight. They’ll then come about and make their way back towards the Solent and Gosport, all under the six hour time limit.

The crew are hoping to raise over £1,500 for Farm Africa to help farmers across eastern Africa boost yields and build their links to high-value markets. Matthew (first mate for the day) will be joined by skipper Craig Weston, Tom Maher, Farm Africa’s Danny Everett, and Red Jacket’s owner who has very generously donated his yacht for the pursuit, Richard Clarke.

In anticipation of a successful day’s sailing Matthew tells us what the event is all about:

“The Gosport Charity Pursuit is a great opportunity to put Farm Africa in the public eye of the sailing community and fly the flag in a different context.  It will be great to see the Farm Africa pennant flying from Red Jacket on the Solent,” said Matthew Sleap.

You can still support the crew of the Red Jacket – why not contribute a ‘King’s Shilling’ or an amount for every nautical mile sailed.

This isn’t Matthew’s first foray into fundraising for Farm Africa, he’s completed the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon in 2014, and last year organised a community walk in his parish, which raised a brilliant £1,300.

If you are inspired to organise your own fundraising event, just give us a call on 020 7067 1256 or email at events@farmafrica.org