Y.CO Prepare To Embark On Extreme Headnorth Challenge

The Y.CO team is preparing to embark on an extreme challenge for charity under

the banner of Headnorth. Commencing April 2015, this 100km trek will

take the team from Ice Camp Bameo to the Geographic North Pole, the

highest point on Planet Earth.

Co-founders Gary Wright and Charlie Birkett, along with

Director of Yacht Management Yves Damette, will be joined on the

Headnorth challenge by members of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning team,

Lewis Moody MBE. Danny Grewcock MBE and Josh Lewsey MBE. Three Royal

Marines will accompany the group, including expedition leader,

accomplished polar explorer Alan Chambers MBE FRGS.

Through Headnorth, the team is aiming to raise in excess of £250,000

to be divided between two charities that help those with head injuries

and brain tumours and another which provides support for military

personnel who have suffered in service: The Lewis Moody Foundation and

the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF).

The Lewis Moody Foundation raises funds to establish the UK’s first

BioBank for brain tumours, a scientific facility for biological data

that will improve the development of treatment and cures, supported by

The Brain Tumour Charity and Cancer Research UK. The Foundation also

helps families affected by serious illness, offering one-off experiences

for children and their families. The RMCTF provides a better quality of

life to serving and retired Royal Marines and their families, and helps

the wounded and injured, particularly as the most severely injured

begin their transition into civilian life.

This challenge also marks the launch of our partnership with the

GREAT Britain campaign, a UK government initiative that showcases the

best that Britain has to offer. Y.CO will join the ‘Adventure is GREAT’

element of the campaign. Y.CO is one of the only superyacht companies in

the GREAT Britain campaign, and will engage in promoting UK-registered

companies to the rest of the world, and, crucially, to emerging markets.

The idea for headnorth was inspired by the Y.CO team’s passion for

adventure, constant search for the ultimate challenge, and commitment to

corporate social responsibility. The team is also taking on Headnorth

to inspire the superyacht industry to focus more on charitable ventures

and to create an avenue for it to do so. In addition, Gary, Charlie and

Yves want to encourage the Y.CO team to take on extreme challenges, move

beyond their comfort zone and embrace adventure at every opportunity.

The trek traverses over 100km of shifting sea ice and is a huge

challenge for all involved. After acclimatisation in the relative

civilisation of Ice Camp Barneo, the team will trek for 10 days

northwards, to Latitude 90° North, a total distance of around 100km, 60

nautical miles. This journey is one of the most extreme tests of

physical and psychological endurance that humans can experience. The

group will battle over a constantly moving ice flow through an

unpredictable polar climate pulling sledges weighing 60kg. Temperatures

are between -25 and -50ºC depending on wind chill.

Charlie Birkett, Co-Founder and CEO of Y.CO, said: “CSR is very

important to Y.CO, and we always encourage our team to help those less

fortunate. By taking on the headnorth, challenge, we want to inspire the

industry to engage more in charitable ventures, and encourage our team

to embrace challenges and support those in desperate need. We are also

privileged to be part of the Great Britain campaign and look forward to

promoting Y.CO and other UK companies to the rest of the world.”

To support the team on their journey, click here to donate and make a difference to two more than worthy causes. We’ll be following Y.CO‘s expedition and will be providing updates as and when we can.