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Global Solo Challenge - Aviator Ocean Racing for our mates

By Aviator Ocean Racing

My Activity Tracking

0
kms

My target 48152 kms

I'm challenging myself to help prevent veteran suicide.

So, I'd love if you could make a donation to Soldier On today so our veterans and their families can receive vital support services to enable them to thrive.

Thank you!

Kevin

Global Solo Challenge (GSC)

G'day, my name is Kev Le Poidevin. I recently retired after 31 years of full time service in the Royal Australian Air Force. Now is the time to pursue my lifelong dream to sail my 1997 Lutra BOC Open 40 race yacht 'Roaring Forty' 26,000 nautical miles solo, non-stop and unassisted around the planet from Spain to Spain via the Southern Ocean.

As a competitor in the Global Solo Challenge, I expect to be sailing in extreme conditions in an event that is packed to the gunwhales with unique challenges. I know my supporters will be right behind me sending words of encouragement. 

I have been supporting Soldier On since they first started back in 2012, when some creative young minds established a charity organisation and assistance program that focused on helping post 1991 wounded and ill service personnel to  navigate their future in a civy street. Not all scars are visible. Many ex-serving folk carry with them unwanted baggage from their years of commitment to Australia and its people. It is fantastic to have Soldier On providing unique support that compliments exisiting government and other organistaions services.

Fortunately I still consider myself to be reasonably healthy (touch wood!), which enables me to activley campaign to support Soldier On, so they may assist others less fortunate. 

By challenging myself in the ocean and offshore yacht racing environment, I hope to inspire and encourage others to step outside their comfort zone and live their best life.
Please dig deep and give what you can.

Donate to my challenge now!

Raised

$1,813

My Goal

$5,000

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Event Information

Saturday 28th October

My Achievements

I added a profile pic

Made a personal donation to my page

Shared my page on my social media

I've received my first sponsored donation

I've reached my fundraising target!

My Updates

Unleash The Beast - Roaring Forty sailing to support Soldier On

Tuesday 3rd Jan
You will notice I have changed the Fundraising title and pictures. That is because our Sydney Hobart Campaign has now been completed and the next event on my calaendar is the Global Solo Challenge starting and finishing in A Coruna Spain. 
The funds raised so far have been used by Soldier On to fund their activities for our ex-service personnel. The range of activities and support is very broad, however the goal remains unchanged - support our mates to successfully transition back to a life in civy street equipped with tools to deal with the traumas endured.

Unfinished Business -we will return in 2022

Sunday 8th May

A big shout out and thank you to the scientists, virus busting frontline medical staff and governments for their combined efforts to deliver us our Covid vaccines that have enabled us all to get on with life and travel again. So why do I mention this now? After dodging the Covid bullet during its peak period, about three weeks out from my departure date I got crook and had yep, winner.....my first positive test result. Whilst it certainly knocked me about, I am happy to say the vaccine and booster performed as advertised and I am still here!

After quick trips to say goodbyes to my family, I spent the next four days travelling from my home in Port Stephens Australia via Newcastle, Brisbane, Dubai, Amsterdam and onto my final destination Roompot Marina in The Netherlands where I checked into my favourite pub the HCR De Kroon where I have stayed for all my previous visits. I have scheduled in a few days off so that I am well rested when I climb aboard Roaring Forty on Monday.

 

I managed a quick visit to view Roaring Forty on Saturday just before the Roompot Yacht Service yard closed and happy to see she has survived the major storm that thumped the area in January. If you look at the picture there’s a nice lump of concrete sitting on the cradle, so the team were well prepared.

 

My immediate plan is to give her a bath and then assess her condition after being in storage since Oct 2019.  I left some clothes onboard in waterproof bags so here’s hoping they are not just bags containing a horrible green mouldy mess!

AVIATOR OCEAN RACING

To make it easier for me to manage and engage with the public, my campaign will be documented on my Aviator Ocean Racing Facebook page.

Don’t forget, its not all about me. My campaign is directly supporting two charities; BRAIN TUMOUR ALLIANCE AUSTRALIA and SOLDIER ON, so please help me to help others. The pages are still active for donations and will shortly be updated to include the Global Solo Challenge.

Aviator Ocean Racing is about opening up opportunities for my fellow Air Force members to experience the excitement of both inshore and offshore sailing in either the high performance Lutra Open 40 Roaring Forty or the more sedate Sigma 36 cruiser/racer Rogue Wave.  

Rogue Wave remains in Australia and we will continue to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (RSHYR) each year to promote our chosen charities. Unfortunately our 2021 RSHYR campaign suffered a lot of setbacks but we made the start. After 30 hours bashing into a short and horrible sea with winds up to forty knots, my co-skipper Darrell Greig and I had to retire just south of Batemans Bay due to autopilot controller failure. Good news is we were very happy to have raised some coin for these wonderful charity organisations. Follow the links to see why.

KEVIN LE POIDEVIN is fundraising for Brain Tumour Alliance Australia Inc (justgiving.com)

Soldier On - RACING for our MATES 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Double Handed

As I am a retired and self-funded entrant, I am always interested in discussing opportunities with potential sponsors if their corporate vision is complimentary to my campaign objectives, so please reach out to me or share with your friends.

Cheers,

KLP 

Welcome Aboard the old Rogue

Wednesday 21st Jul
Daz and I are proud Air Force Aviators who have been serving our nation and its people for over sixty years, and we continue to serve. 

We support Soldier On because they help our mates every day. Be it a coffee catch up, a Try Sailing day, meditation or some interview skills to get you back on your confidence bike.....it all helps restore what may have been misplaced, but hopefully not lost. 

Please consider donating via the page link. But remember, carry with you the message as its not all about dollars......we need you to raise community awareness of veteran illness and injury that could result in the suicide of a loved one or someone you know. Openly talk about veteran suicide with your family and friends so together we can influence change.

This Boxing Day at 1300h,  Daz and I will be on the start line on Sydney Harbour to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in the double handed division. That means just the two of us instead of the normal six crew.  It will be a challenge most people cannot understand unless they sail, so we will try and capture footage and stories to open our world to you, so you can enjoy the adventure.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$130

Val & Ed Le Poidevin

Congratulations on your achievement Kev

$130

Val & Ed Le Poidevin

What an achievement! Congratulations Kev on sailing over 13,000 nm solo, non stop and unassisted 1/2 way around the world.

$520

Anonymous

I know how expensive it is to maintain a boat under benign conditions let alone what you have experienced. I very much look forward to finally meeting you on your return to Port Stephens. Best wishes for a pleasant , easy and trouble free passage home.

$104

Val & Ed Le Poidevin

$50

Hair Craft Salon

$104.40

Veronica O

A tough race! (The news bureau team donated a third :)

$55

Ed& Val Le P

$104.40

Rachel Greig-yule

$78.30

Char

Kev and Daz, thanks for racing and supporting Soldier On!

$52.20

Petra Hughes

All the best Have a fantastic race Cheers Petra and Brian

$37

Brett Dolan

41?b gunnies with you Daz

$52.20

Paul

$38.63

Johnathan Lalic

$250

Edinburgh Sgts Mess

Great work guys, good luck!

$20.88

Sarah Mclaren

Go Daz!

$65.56

Anonymous

$20.88

Darrell Greig

Because I wont be getting my bacon & egg muffins the days I'm racing S2H, I'll donate my $20 I normally spend to this great charity. ha :)