Sailing Adventures

QII was launched in 1990 and, after a singlehanded Azores and Back Race (AZAB) in her as practice, Mary took part in her in the 1992 Singlehanded Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) and achieved 2nd place in the 35 foot Class in a time of 21 days 5 hours. Not satisfied with this Mary determined to enter the next OSTAR which would take place in 1996. Meanwhile in 1993 she and Jenny Bennett won the 35 foot Class in QII in the doublehanded Round Britain & Ireland Race and created a new 35 foot Class record on the outward leg of AZAB 1995.

In 1996 she finally achieved her ambition. Not only did she win the 35 foot Class in OSTAR but she created a new Class record of 19 days, 22 hours and 57 minutes, a record which, despite subsequent advances in design, equipment and communications, still stands to this day. She also beat all the monohulls in the 40 foot class, all but one in the 45 foot Class and all but 2 in the 50 foot Class!

After that what would be her next target? Mary and QII followed their 1996 triumph with other racing successes. Then in 2005 Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer . Read more under QII Challenge. While still in the process of regaining her strength after her treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy Mary took part in the Petit Bateau 2006 Solo Channel Race Week. The 260 mile course comprised 5 consecutive days and one night of challenging singlehanded racing, contending with the rocks and strong tidal streams of the Channel Islands as well as the busy traffic of the English Channel. Not only did Mary achieve her aim of completing the course but she finished the Week 2nd in Class and 2nd in the whole fleet. And she raised over £40,000 for the ICR.

In 2007 she took part in Petit Bateau’s longer 10 day solo race series, visiting Dingle on the west coast of Ireland. Again she finished 2nd in Class and in the fleet. And she raised a further £20,000 for the ICR.

In 2008 she entered Petit Bateau’s still longer 500 mile bluQube Biscay race. After winning her class in the 1st leg from Falmouth to Kinsale in Ireland she was leading her Class in the long 2nd leg from Kinsale to Santander in Spain when, in a gale halfway across the notorious Bay of Biscay her selfsteering, spare selfsteering and all her navigational instruments broke down. This forced her to retire from the race. But nothing daunted, she entered Petit Bateau’s solo Channel Race Week a few weeks later and finally won her Class!

By the end of 2008 she had raised over £80,000 for the ICR. Although a broken leg while skiing in March 2009 has prevented Mary from racing in QII in 2009, her QII Challenge fund for the ICR had reached over £90,000 by the end of 2009. She will be trying to reach her £100,000 target in 2010 when she will be taking part in the doublehanded Round Britain & Ireland Race with Jerry Freeman as well as Petit Bateau’s principle solo race on her own in QII.