The North Channel isn’t a very enticing place when you want to sail to Portpatrick on the Mull of Galloway in Scotland in windy conditions in a hydrofoiling Waszp dinghy and even less so when you’re attempting to set a Guinness World Record.

So Matt McGovern and Bob Espey from Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough had to postpone their first attempt to do just that in a fundraiser for Jodi’s Giants, a group set up to raise money for children’s cancer charities. The focus of this attempt is the Tomalin family whose little boy Jodi was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Jodi's parents said: "Only Bob and Matt could come up with this idea! It will be some laugh watching how wet they get. We can't wait”.

The first attempt on 12th June was scuppered by strong winds and big seas but on the evening of 16th June, the boys were successful and made it the twenty-two miles to Portpatrick and back by midnight.

Bob has been a long-time sailing competitor at Ballyholme, having raced Lasers, 49ers and RS 400s. Matt represented Ireland at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 49er class alongside Ryan Seaton, finishing 14th. He participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio as well.

On last Thursday evening, Matt and Bob set off with little warning in a perfect 12 -14 knot southerly breeze and arrived just off Portpatrick Harbour in 1 hour 30mins.

Matt said he is not sure if it will be accepted as a Guinness Record, but they do have a GPS record of the trip.

A view of Donaghadee from a foiling Waszp dinghy

But those who know the North Channel, are aware of its vagaries and unfortunately, the steady breeze didn’t last. And, as the wind and waves built, they had 18 knots with more at times and capsized frequently.

Then that was followed by no wind at all and a strong tide near the Copeland Islands off the North Down coast. So, it was a midnight finish after a 3 hours 23 mins crossing.

Bob Espey (left) with Matt McGovern and their families before the charity sail to Scotland

Safety cover was provided by Safer Waters, a charity which provided safety cover for community events.

Bob Espey is a long-time sailor at Ballyholme Yacht Club having raced Lasers, 49ers and RS400s, he now owns a Waszp dinghy. A ‘bonkers’ plan is what he has called his standout fundraising effort for little Jodi Tomalin who has, along with his parents Jeremy and Lisa been through the mill for most of 2021. A year ago Jodi was diagnosed with cancer.

Bob explains “To help raise money for the three charities who supported them through this I’ve come up with a plan of trying to sail a hydrofoiling dinghy (Waszp) across the Irish Sea and back. And so as not to be lonely, I’ve roped in my brother-in-law Matt McGovern (49er Olympian) to accompany me in his own Waszp. It’s about 20 miles from Ballyholme to Portpatrick on the Ayrshire coast across the North Channel and of course the date, which is most likely to be in March, is weather dependent. Bob estimates a time of 3 to 4 hours nonstop and, for their wives reassurance, amongst other reasons, they will be accompanied by safety boats.

Bob continues “A trip like this has never been attempted in a hydrofoiling dinghy and I’ve no doubt it will be a big challenge. I hope you will get behind us to say, “Buzz off to cancer” and hopefully we can raise some money for three very worthy charities – The Cancer Fund for Children, the Children’s Cancer Unit and Angel Wishes”.