Isle of Wight Radio presenters Paul Topping and Heather Mcallum were close to tears describing their efforts to complete the gruelling JP Morgan round the Island yacht race they failed after the rudder broke on their yacht on Saturday (June 19).

The duo set out at 5.15am this morning along with over 1,753 other boats to help boost funds for help a local child Gracie May Fuller from Shanklin. Her family are raising money to help pay for a operation to allow their daughter to walk.

Duded Britain’s favourite yacht race that attracted over 1,700 boats and over 16,000 sailors the radio presenters took the challenge after Into the Blue and Pelican Racing put the idea to pair.

Breakfast Presenter Paul said, “I am close to tears, I’m really gutted, so much effort has been put in. “

“We only had 4 miles to go to complete the whole race, the skipper tried his best after the rudder became damaged just off Ventnor.

We sailed a further 20 miles without the rudder, through the Bembridge ledge the skipper was brilliant with the way he managed to control the boat. It just became too difficult and dangerous to carry on sailing.

The skipper called up the Pelican support rib that had been shadowing us to help recover the boat.

I just hope people who have pleaded sponsorship toward the appeal will under stand

Racing against the like of Dame Ellen MacArthur, Ben Ainslie and Shirley Robertson, Paul revealed that he had never been on the water before nor had been ever sailed before.

He praised the support and the training that Pelican had given both Heather and himself.

We have spent seven weeks after presenting are radio show sometime at night learning how to sail.

It’s been really brilliant and I have really enjoyed it. Next year we plan to enter the race and complete it.

Francis Joyon’s IDEC claimed outright line honours this morning as first multihull home in 04. 24.05

The first monohull ICAP Leopard completed her lap of the Island half an hour later

ICAP Leopard a 100-foot yacht completed the 50-mile course in just over 5 hours; experienced Skipper Mike Slade said that is very difficult race this year.