Sail2help was founded by Tim Davies, who lives in Winchester, after his 28-year-old son, George, took his own life in December 2019.
The charity donates the money it raises to leading UK youth suicide prevention organisation Papyrus, and also charters boats to offer ‘sailing escape days’ through the help of Mr Davies’ event management company, AVRO Yachting.
The company supports veterans and mental health charities. Both organisations feature the colours red, yellow and blue on their logos, representing the three poignant emotions that scar families impacted by suicide.
‘Blue is the sadness of his death,’ said Mr Davies.
‘Yellow represents the wrongness of feeling happy when you shouldn’t, and red marks the failure of the father.’
The crew has sailed into local waters twice before, previously working with the Guernsey Youth Commission to raise awareness of their support for vulnerable youngsters. But Mr Davies said he has been a regular visitor to the island for over 45 years.
‘I know Guernsey extremely well and we’re here on a scouting mission to work out what we’re going to do in the 10 days from 20 July.’
The 14m yacht hosted a reception in the visitor’s marina on Friday night, networking with islanders and local causes, including Men’s Shed, the Association of Guernsey Charities and the Guernsey Sailing Trust.
Papyrus is now supporting the Channel Islands as a direct result of its local work, and Mr Davies is keen to build more connections, to offer islanders solace at sea.
‘Life throws you lots of rotten things, but it also throws you lots of positive things – like good friends and sailing,’ he said.
‘Sailing is a great way to break the cycle of grieving. I can’t think of anything nicer than being on a boat. We had a family on board who were going through a particularly tough time, mother and children, and there was a moment that gives me goosebumps whenever I think about it.
‘The kids were screaming with laughter enjoying the water, and I looked at the mum’s face. It was like a wax model of somebody that was in severe anguish, with a lighter under her chin. All the stress melted away. If we spent the £22,000 that we’ve raised this year on that one moment, it would’ve been worth it.
‘When you’re at sea, something immense happens, we see the difference it makes to people all the time. A smile comes on their face.’
It costs £1,000 a day to rent the yacht, and £350 for the skipper. Going forward, the charity aims to raise £100,000 a year in order to fund more ‘escape days’ for the bereaved and those facing mental health challenges, as well as having enough left over to support Papyrus and the seafarers charity Iswans, which runs its own YachtCrew Helpline.
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