Organisers of the MailASail AZAB (Azores and Back) Race have chosen Falmouth-based Turn to Starboard as their nominated charity.

Around 60 yachts will race 2,500 miles from Falmouth to The Azores and back.

The race, organised by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club has been held for the last 43 years.

Participants will set off on Saturday June 1 and will take between seven and ten days to reach the mid-Atlantic islands in the race that is held once every four years.

Turn to Starboard supports Armed Forces personnel affected by military operations by teaching them how to sail.

AZAB Race Director Ian Munday said: “As a veteran myself I can fully appreciate the immensely valuable and life changing work that T2S does with veterans and their families. We are delighted to be able to support the charity through The MailASail Azores and Back Race and increase the awareness amongst fellow mariners of the impact that T2S achieves”.

Each leg of the race will cover approximately 1,220 miles from Falmouth the the Azores archipelago approximately 750 nautical miles off the coast of Portugal.

Turn to Starboard use sail training to support Armed Forces personnel affected by military operations to start new careers in the marine industry. Launched in 2014, the Falmouth-based charity has provided more than 1,900 sailing opportunities to injured veterans and their families with many going on to gain valuable sailing qualifications.

Tamsin Mulcahy, Operations Manager at Turn to Starboard, said: “We are delighted to be chosen by the organisers of The MailASail Azores race and warmly welcome the support from this iconic race. This partnership will help to raise awareness of our work supporting veterans suffering with physical or mental health injuries, as well as highlighting some of the challenges individuals can face after leaving service life.”

Further details can be found at azab.co.uk and turntostarboard.co.uk.