Some of the biggest names in sailing are getting geared up to sail head to head during Skandia Cowes Week 2005 with the objective of raising funds for the Event’s Official Charity, Sail 4 Cancer.

The Stars of Sailing Challenge, taking place on the evening of Wednesday 3 August 2005 at 1800, is designed to raise funds for Sail 4 Cancer, and give members of the public the chance to sail with eight of the biggest names in sailing today. A donation of £5 (with all proceeds to Sail 4 Cancer) automatically enters each supporter into the prize draw to be a crew member in one of the eight boats. One ticket therefore gives each supporter eight chances of being drawn to crew one of the eight boats!

The line up of skippers reads like a who’s who in sailing and includes the Olympians Shirley Robertson, Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell. Vendée Globe heroes Nick Moloney and Alex Thomson have also signed up, together with Around Alone heroine Emma Richards and Sydney-Hobart winner Grant Wharington.

Anyone can enter the prizedraw (experienced sailors or otherwise). Tickets for the crew draw is available online www.sail4cancer.org/stars or at the Sail 4 Cancer stands in Cowes Yacht Haven and Shepards Wharf during Cowes Week.

The Challenge, supported by Skandia, will take place in Cowes Harbour, with perfect viewing for spectators on Cowes Parade, under the watchful eye of the UKSA. Each crew, made up of a sailing legend and a lucky raffle winner, will compete in ’round the cans’ races in six identical RS Visions.

Henri-Lloyd, Official Technical Clothing Supplier to Skandia Cowes Week, has given each sailing ‘star’ a Henri-Lloyd Foil Jacket to wear for the event. After sailing, each Henri-Lloyd jacket will be signed by the sailing celebrity who wore it and all the jackets will then be put up for auction on www.sail4cancer.com