Setting sail for Scope | Virgin Media Business

Virgin Media Business Director Ian Hoddle is swapping desks for decks as he takes on one of the world's toughest yacht races in order to raise money for our charity partner, Scope.

Ian is taking to the sea for The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race and will sail around the UK's rugged coastline.

Ian will be joined by co-skipper, Ollie Wyatt, and together they will cover 1,805 nautical miles and are likely to experience tough tidal conditions and unpredictable weather.

Competing in the Virgin Media Business sponsored yacht 'Game On', Ian and Ollie's fundraising target is to turn the 1,805 nautical miles into £18,050 for Scope.

Virgin Media has joined forces with Scope to transform the lives of disabled people across the UK. Last year, we launched 'Work With Me', a campaign to support a million disabled to get in and stay in work by the end of 2020.

Ian said: I am determined to beat both my personal best time in the Sevenstar Round Britain race and my best fundraising total.

"Having faced waves bigger than houses in the 2014 race, I know the race will challenge Ollie and I both mentally and physically. Raising money for Scope, a charity that provides support to disabled people who face challenges every day, will inspire us not to give up when things get really tough".

The race starts in Cowes, the Isle of Wight, on August 12, with competitors sailing up the west coast of Ireland, rounding the Shetlands, and the maritime traffic hazards in the North Sea, before finishing back in Cowes.

Other sponsors of 'Game On' include BE, Comex2000, Daisy, Enghouse, Gamma, Palo Alto, Smoothwall and Westcon.

"Giving back to our community is a core pillar of BE Offices, and we’re proud to be part of this great event."

"Everyone at Daisy Partner Services would like to wish all race entrants the very best of luck."

"Westcon International are proud to support our valued partner VMB with the fantastic work they're doing with SCOPE."

You can sponsor Ian and Ollie and you can follow the Virgin Media Business yacht as she manoeuvres around Britain and Ireland.

Game On

Boat type: Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600
Sail number: GBR5936R
Rating: 1.039

Ian has been racing extensively with SORC and double handed with RORC over the past 9 seasons. Major races include 6 Fast net Races, the 2000-mile Azores and Back Race (AZAB) which he undertook single-handed in 2015. In 2014, he competed in the non-stop Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race achieving double handed line honours and becoming the first ever double handed boat to complete the race.

Ian is currently focused on the Royal Ocean Racing Club offshore championship with the objective to win the 2018 series championship. With an impressive set of results over the first 5 races of this season with four wins and a second in the double handed class he and his co-skipper Ollie Wyatt are currently winning both the Double Handed and Class 3 series. Although racing two up (double handed), the pair race against fully crewed yachts overall and within their class (i.e. yachts within a similar performance range).

Ian's objective is to win the IRC Double Handed class in the Sevenstar RB&I race.