The 1979 Fastnet Race became infamous, a byword for nature’s wrath unleashed. On the 14th of August 1979 the race was struck by a massive storm. Over the next 36 hours 15 sailors lost their lives, five boats were sunk and 135 yachtsmen were rescued.

As a teenager on board the yacht Silver Foam I, Dermot O’Flynn and his crew were lucky to survive.

Thirty years on he wants to salute the bravery and heroism of the RNLI crews in Ireland and England who risked their lives on that fateful August night.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the worlds worst ever sailing race tragedy – Dermot will sail a 16ft Topper Sport dinghy from the Fastnet Rock to Crosshaven in aid of the RNLI, with fellow crewman, Professor Ciaran O’Boyle,

He calls on us all to salute the bravery of the RNLI crews that saved so many lives during the 1979 Fastnet Race storm by logging on to:

www.mycharity.ie/event/fastnet_challenge_2009/