Pembrokeshire vets swap surgery for the sea in pink yacht charity challenge
The all‑female crew, known as The Pink Puffins, have taken part in dozens of races over the past six months aboard a 24ft Achilles yacht, transformed into a vivid pink head‑turner to spark conversations about breast cancer.
The yacht was gifted to skipper Charlotte Hamilton by her husband to help her build confidence ahead of a planned round‑the‑world voyage delivering veterinary care to animals in remote communities. What began as a personal project quickly grew into a fundraising mission in memory of loved ones affected by breast cancer.
From novices to racers
Charlotte, an experienced sailor who previously crewed in the 2017 Fastnet Race, led a team of colleagues, friends and supporters — many of whom had never set foot on a yacht before.
“Most of our crew have never sailed before. Each week we welcomed several complete novices onboard, and I taught them to sail from scratch, which made the experience even more special,” she said.
The Pink Puffins competed in weekly races on the River Cleddau, organised by Pembroke Haven Yacht Club and Neyland Yacht Club, as well as endurance events including a gruelling 15‑hour round trip to Tenby.
Detail of the Pink Puffins’ yacht, featuring its bold pink hull and charity messages. (Image: supplied)The Pink Puffins’ yacht under sail on the water during a race in Pembrokeshire. (Image: supplied)Close‑up of the Pink Puffins’ yacht, painted bright pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. (Image: supplied)Community support
Staff from across Fenton Vets — including vets, nurses, receptionists and managers — joined the crew at various points during the season. A special day’s sailing was even dedicated to practice staff, including Joy Williams, who recently celebrated 50 years at the practice.
The team capped their season with a quiz and raffle night, raising £800 and bringing their fundraising total to nearly £2,500.
Sailing in memory
Charlotte said the challenge was deeply personal:
“We have been sailing in memory of my friend, Connie Johncock, who lived with metastatic breast cancer for 10 years before sadly passing away. Connie was a trustee of METUPUK and a passionate advocate for improving outcomes for women with metastatic breast cancer. We also raced in honour of my mum, who has successfully undergone treatment.”
Funds raised will be split between Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, and METUPUK, the country’s only patient advocacy group dedicated to metastatic breast cancer.
Looking ahead
Although the yacht is now coming out of the water for winter, The Pink Puffins hope to return to racing next year. Charlotte also plans to embark on a charity round‑the‑world veterinary mission with her husband within the next two years.
“Any donation, and all the cheers from the shore, made a huge difference. Our pink yacht is impossible to miss, and we hope it’s helped spark conversations about breast cancer,” she added.
Supporters can donate via the team’s fundraising page: gofundme.com/f/sailing-for-breast-cancer
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