Deb and Rob, sailing the 36’ yacht Bellino, are the only British entry in the French Cap Martinique yacht race, which starts in La Trinité sur Mer on the West coast of France on 1 May. The course takes us around Madeira then across the Atlantic to Martinique, a total of 3800 miles. The two of us will take it in turns to sail and sleep, 24 hours a day for 3-4 weeks. You will be able to track our progress through the event website:

cap-Martinique.com  

We are using the race to encourage donations to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, via the International Red Cross.  Even before recent developments, this is a conflict that hits people daily on personal, psychological and emotional level, bringing death, injury, separation from loved ones as well as the huge mental toll of ongoing violence and insecurity. The International Red Cross have been working in Eastern Ukraine over the past 8 years, repairing water stations, supporting small businesses, educating people on the risks of mines and explosives, and helping repair homes. In the current crisis, the teams on the ground are are already providing life saving food, blankets, warm clothes and first aid to people displaced from their homes, or sheltering in unheated metro stations. 

Our donations will make a real difference to the lives of ordinary Ukrainians in these desperate times. If you can, please give generously.