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A group of local motorboat enthusiasts, with personal experience of prostate cancer, are circumnavigating the coast of Britain to raise money for charity.
The four men, aged between 36 and 61, set off on Monday 25th April and are now about two-thirds of the way through their journey which will take them north around Scotland and back down to Jersey.
The group is split across two Aquastar 38 cabin cuisers.
‘Joie de Vivre’ is captained by 36-year-old Neil Cotillard with Phil Graham (58) as its crew, and ‘April Rose’ with Phil Carter (58) as Captain and 61-year-old Colin Le Galle in the crew.
Video: Meet the Aquastars. (Cameron Aird/Vimeo)
The group has decided to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK as the charity has been at the forefront of their minds lately with Neil's father-in-law being terminally ill with the disease and Phil Carter also having recently been given a diagnosis.
At the time of writing, the group are currently in Troon Marina before setting off to cross the Irish Sea to Bangor, near Belfast.
Colin Le Galle, crew of the April Rose boat, explained the challenges they had faced since leaving Jersey last month: “On the way, Joie de Vivre had a mechanical failure that had to be repaired in Scarborough and April Rose struck a storm dislodged part of Wick pier in shallow water, that was not marked with any warnings and which caused propeller and keel damage.
“This required the boat to be lifted out of the water for repairs, which forced a couple of days delay to our progress. However, we eventually moved on to the Orkney Islands, then westwards across the top of Scotland, and then south through the Hebredies and along the west coast of Scotland.”
Pictured: The group will be taking a 2,000 mile route east around Britain.
He is, however, looking forward to continuing their journey: “After Bangor, we hope to travel to Dublin, Neyland in Wales (where April Rose was built), Padstow, the Scilly Isles, Falmouth, Dartmouth, and then back to Jersey.
“The schedule is quite fluid - in accordance with whatever weather we encounter along the way, but we are aiming to get back to Jersey around 27th May, if possible.”
You can donate to Prostate Cancer UK and follow their adventure on the group’s online travel log, Aquastars on Tour.
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