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Racing to End Parkinson's

Published 13:15 on 29 Oct 2026

Fancy Racing Across the Atlantic?

Atlantic crossings, Caribbean racing and the chance to get onboard — all for a great cause!

BSSC member David Rowen is heading offshore with Karl Smith aboard the Class40 Racing to End Parkinson's, taking on the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Antigua (starting Jan 10th), followed by the exhilarating Caribbean 600.

And here's the exciting bit: you could be part of the crew! Opportunities are available to sponsor the boat for a race and nominate a crew member to sail alongside David. If you've ever fancied experiencing serious offshore racing, this could be your chance to get involved.

But there's a bigger mission behind the adventure. These races form part of the wider Racing to End Parkinson's campaign, building towards Karl's Global Solo Challenge 2027. Karl is attempting to become the first Irish sailor to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world, with the campaign aiming to raise €1 million for Parkinson's charities, including Parkinson's UK and Cure Parkinson's.

The goal is to raise funds and awareness, support research into better treatments and help bring us closer to a cure for this horrible disease.

How to get involved?

Sponsor the boat for a race: Help make the campaign happen and nominate a crew member to join David onboard.
Become a Friend of the Project: Have your name displayed on the boat and become part of the adventure. See the flyer attached below for details.
Donate: Support the Parkinson's charity closest to your heart. Donations can be made through the charity's JustGiving pages, linked from the campaign website.

David will keep BSSC members updated with news, stories and insights from the races, so the club can follow the adventure as it unfolds.

Ready to get involved?

Website: www.smithoceanprojects.com

Instagram: @smithoceanprojects

Contact David Rowen

Email: david@aerowen.de

WhatsApp: +49 162 311 8445

Get in touch — and help us race to end Parkinson's!