In what is believed to be the first recorded attempt of its kind, Mr Andrew Waters will be sailing an IC-24 sailing boat single-handedly around the entire [British] Virgin Islands over this weekend May 18-19, 2013. Photo: Provided

Mr Andrew Waters. Photo: Provided

Commenting on the planned circumnavigation of the VI, Mr Waters stated “When my daughter’s diagnosis was confirmed, I asked myself what I could do to help. I am a keen sailor and so I came up with the idea to sail around the entire British Virgin Islands to raise money for the cause. To make it more of a challenge, I elected to make the attempt in an IC-24 keelboat.”

The IC-24 is a popular one-design racing boat in the Caribbean. Because it is a racing boat it has no frills – there is no sleeping accommodation, no engine, no facilities of any kind. Mr Waters will therefore make some modifications to his boat for the attempt: “I’m going to install an auto-helm so I can rest during the voyage. It is over 200 Nautical miles and I estimate it will take up to 48 hours. I will also make some arrangements for provisions and carry appropriate emergency equipment for an offshore voyage.”

The sail route is from Nanny Cay resort and Marina, into the Caribbean Sea between Salt Island and Dead Chest, leaving Salt, Cooper and Ginger Islands to Port, then proceeding to leave Virgin Gorda to Port as well before continuing Eastwards some significant distance to clear Horseshoe reef of Anegada. Once Anegada is left to Port a long downwind run to leave Jost Van Dyke and the Tobago Keys Island also to port, following with a long upwind leg leaving the remaining VI islands of Great and Little Thatch, Norman and then finally Peter Islands to port before completing the journey by re entering the Sir Francis Drake Channel via the same cut between Salt Island and Dead Chest, and completing the Circumnavigation back at Nanny Cay.

Usually, there is a crew of at least two or three people; however, Andrew will be out there on his own.