The charity
uses sailing to aid the rehabilitation of injured servicemen so its
presence at the Cowes Race Week regatta, provided the perfect platform
in which to promote its valuable work. A total of 13 inter-servicemen
competed at the regatta, including 10 crew aboard two J/80s – Big Toe
and Little Toe, from the UKSA. Because Toe in the Water is an extension
of rehabilitation, the sailors who are competing here this week are
under a strict regime, which means after they return on shore from
racing they have to be taken straight to the trauma physiotherapist to
complete their daily treatment.
To find out how Toe in the Water benefits injured servicemen and women,
we spoke to 23-year old Private Chris Herbert. Herbert was originally
from Barnsley and served in the First Battalion Yorkshire Regiment but
when he was 19 years old he lost his leg while serving in Iraq.
When he joined Toe in the Water as a patient during Aberdeen Asset Cowes
Week in 2008, he’d never been on a boat before. Three years on, he is
now a full time able-bodied volunteer, with a Yachtmaster certificate
under his belt. “Sailing, through Toe in the Water, gave me back my
life. When I lost my leg, I was young, angry and didn’t know where my
life was taking me. I was psychologically lost and physically weak. I
joined Toe in the Water and I was put on the winch to improve my core
stability. I was also part of a team again, which was very important to
me. Sailing helped me in every aspect of my recovery and I am now
competitive racing sailor.”
Herbert is heading off to Portsmouth University in September and aims to
combine his studies with sailing, and learn about the
business/marketing side of the industry. Before then however, he’ll be
taking part in the Rolex Fastnet Race,
Toe in the Water also had a big presence on shore with all sorts of
exciting social events taking place throughout the week. One of the
biggest, and most popular was the Wednesday night "Indian Curry Night"
where The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistics Regiment did the cooking, and
Gurkha pipers and drummers entertained the crowds.
br />