Re: Summer 2015 | Page 25

! ual us Un ething dle Som Pad of! The Mayo Wynne Baxter “Paddle Something Unusual” is a team event where your creativity reins rather than your practical boat building skills! The idea is to paddle /float the most unusual thing you can think of around the remains of the West Pier in Brighton. It’s not a race, the winner is often the one that entertains the judges most. In previous years the “PSU” have seen everything from aeroplanes to cranes and from a bed to a shed – the only guidelines are to make it as ridiculous (but safe) as possible, raise plenty of money for charity – and have a spectacularly good time doing it. Remember this is not a race - it’s the most fun and unusual entry that wins! Mayo Wynne Baxter is proud to be part of a legendary Sussex event this July 4th & 5th. The Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival began in Brighton in 1996 with a handful of surfers paddling their surfboards around a pier for charity – from humble beginnings comes an event which is now said to be the world’s biggest free charity beach festival. With visitor numbers of over 50,000 based around a 60,000m² “Paddle Village” the event features the best water sports and beach lifestyle brands along with exhibitions/retail, restaurants & bars. Entertainment is spread across the site with the popular Main Music Stage, A Ukulele stage and a specific Children’s Stage as well as displays of extreme sports to watch or take-part in. “Paddle” as the event is affectionately known, is actually an umbrella title for lots of paddle sport and sea sporting events. The timetable for the serious racing sees competitors come from far and wide as the platform & support Paddle offers its partners is second to none. The fact that the event is to this day, still run by volunteers with all profits going straight to charity makes it a unique and treasured experience to get involved with. The event has raised over an amazing £250,000 for charity in recent years. This year’s charity beneficiaries are: The RNLI, Brighton Surf Life Saving Club and Rockinghorse. The most popular event of the weekend, and the one which draws the largest crowds on the beaches, happens to be the one that we are proud to be part The rules are simple: • t has to be paddled manually with I absolutely no propellers or engines of any kind •  ave a minimum crew of two (no H maximum limit) • t needs a tow-loop somewhere on it as I the safety boats probably will end up helping you at some point! •  ll members of the team need to be able A to swim a minimum of 100 metres in the sea This is such a legendary event and one which Mayo Wynne Baxter is extremely proud to support and we are throwing down the gauntlet. MWB will be entering a team and offering hospitality and our own prizes to clients and friends of the firm that take up the challenge to compete against us. So follow our lead and partake in this very British madness. For further details on Brighton’s favourite weekend by the sea and for more details on the Mayo Wynne Baxter “Paddle Something Unusual” visit www. paddleroundthepier.com And expect a call from me, the challenge is on! By Jason Edge 23