The Challenge 2006. A Single-handed Circumnavigation of the United Kingdom in aid of the Ellen MacArthur Trust. Try the quiz (now with more questions) Katie and Elektra reach half distance point. It all started two years ago when Katie passed her Day Skipper course in Minorca. She declared to her mother “I’m going to sail around the UK single-handed”. When they got home to Blighty the initial plans were formulated. When, how, what boat, what for? Katie answered all of the questions and the project was born. Two years of hard work later she has purchased the boat, Elektra, refurbished her, equipped her, pampered and painted her. Then the sponsors were selected. Crusader, Raymarine, Gul, Elite, Ernst and Young, Foxsoft, Tohatsu, Imray, Facnor, McMurdo, Holt, Downwind and many others. All had their part to play in making the challenge a success. Then the boat needed to be put in the water. Katie had trepidation and fear. Would she float? Were the seacocks closed? Careful on the crane, carefully lower her into the water. She floats, beaming smile. No engine, no sails, she’s going nowhere yet. That was February 14th, St Valentine’s Day and Katie looked like she had received a sack full of cards. She didn’t want to leave Elektra alone so stayed with her during February and March while sails were being cut and shaped and rigging measured and made and stem head fittings designed and fabricated and chain plates replaced. A lot of hard cold work and harder colder nights aboard. Then suddenly it was April and Elektra needed to move from Poole to Hamble. Trial sails were arranged in Poole Harbour and suddenly she was alive, Katie and Elektra were a team and all the work seemed to have been worth it. Now Katie had to learn to sail Elektra single-handedly, safely, competently and capably. The sail from Poole to Hamble proved that more work was needed to make the 2400-mile challenge safe and secure. The improvements were made and single-handed trial sails made. Nearly ready to go, more trepidation, can we really do it? Of course we can. April 20th and with a fair tide the first stage to Gosport was completed. Confidence growing. Next to Brighton, a longer cruise and the challenge has really started. Now its 7th June with 1000 nautical miles gone Katie and Elektra are at the halfway stage and entering the Caledonian Canal. For the first time Elektra will be heading south rather than North and her course will take her closer to home rather than away. She will also be getting closer to the finish line, Universal Marina on the Hamble. So many new friends have been made and so many places visited and this is only half way. No doubt there will be many more during the second half of the challenge. The Challenge 2006 was conceived to raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Trust to enable even more children with cancer to experience the thrills and beauty of sailing. If you want to help, visit the website, www.thechallenge2006.co.uk where you can follow the progress of Katie and Elektra and if you can, make a donation. Have you been paying attention? ... Try the quiz Go to the web site now