All Afloat trustee and chair of selectors for UK Youth Racing Phil Tilley is to take on the IronMan Wales challenge in Tenby to raise money for the sailing charity.

Aiming to finish the course in less than 13 hours, with a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle ride and 26.2 mile run around the West Wales town, the newly appointed Sport Wales board member wants to help All Afloat give people the chance to get out onto the water and change lives.

Tilley, aged 54, from Llandenny near Usk in Gwent, said, “All Afloat as a charity aims to give young people in Wales the opportunity to get onto the water in a safe and supported environment and hopefully, through these experiences, transform their lives and give them the opportunities I feel I have benefited from.

“Sailing is a sport or hobby like no other. It can be as physically demanding as you want it to be, it is mentally challenging, when engaged it provides a focus which can block out all other concerns, it is a sport where everyone can be an equal.

“The perception as an elitist sport is a complete myth and the more engaged people are in the sport the more they are surprised how approachable everyone is and how many opportunities can be provided.

“I was very fortunate to be given the chance to sail at school initially as an after-school club and then in lieu of school games.

“There was no history of sailing in our family and I distinctly remember my grandfather stating that sailing was not a sport and clearly disapproved. However, those experiences at school shaped many things in my life.”
Tilley is a regular tri-athlete as well as a sailor, but the chance to train fully for the IronMan came after retiring as marketing director at a global company.

“It is something I was challenged to do by my clubmates, but I had not had the time to train with a busy work schedule. Now I can get it out of my system,” explained Tilley, also the chair of selectors for UK youth racing.
“I have been doing triathlon for the last six years, slowly building up the distances, so this is a natural progression.

“There will be over 2,000 people taking part in Tenby, my aim is to complete it in under 13 hours and be within the top 10 for my age.”

The Tenby IronMan Wales takes place on September 9th along the Pembrokeshire coast.
Anyone wishing to donate to the All Afloat charity in support of Phil’s efforts should go to https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/philtilley2 .

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