200 islands in a dinghy

Ken Fowler sets sail on a unique challenge to round all the islands of England and Wales, and learns some intriguing history along the way

- Ken Fowler

Funny how small ideas in life often turn in to bigger ones. The Yodare challenge is definitely one of those. What started out as sailing around one solitary island in 2015 has now morphed into sailing round all the islands in England and Wales – that’s over 200 islands at the last count – although unfortunately I keep discovering more! So how did this sailing odyssey come about and what’s it like to take on the many varied challenges of the British coast in a 4m dinghy?

In 2015 I turned 50 and, more poignantly, it was the point at which I’d lived more of my life without my father, than with him. He died of cancer when I was only 24. He was from a family of six siblings, five of whom were taken by cancer. To commemorate his life and to mark this milestone I sailed a Laser dinghy around the Isle of Wight to raise funds for Cancer Research and Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington. That 72-mile adventure raised over £3,000 and most surprisingly, also earned me a nomination for a national sailing award. Although I didn’t win, coming runner-up was a fantastic achievement and seemed to be the catalyst to people suddenly approaching me with “What’s your next adventure – sailing round Britain?”