Ken Black rounds the Needles on his way to breaking the record time for circumnavigating the Isle of Wight on a sailboard. The challenge is laid down by Carlsberg who, because Ken was to donate his prize money to the RNLI, doubled the amount to £500.

The weather was not encouraging when he set off with rain, mist and a force 4 blowing but when he reached Yarmouth on the completion of the trip, seven hours and 58 minutes after leaving the town, the record had been broken. The Carlsberg challenge insists on stringent safety rules which includes the provision of a safety boat which in Ken's case was laid on by Yarmouth lifeboat's second coxswain Dave Lemonius.

With the prize money and sponsorship the adventure raised an admirable £3,000 for the RNLI.

photograph by courtesy of Alastair Black.