The High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight joins volunteers and shares in the excitement of Cowes Week.
Cowes Sailability Club’s annual Cowes Week event was a great success again this year, with 175 people enjoying accessible boat trips in the sunshine. The club organised nineteen trips on a wheelchair-friendly motor catamaran over five days, creating special days out for disabled adults and children from the Isle of Wight and their families.
High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, Kay Marriott, visited Cowes Sailability Club during Cowes Week to meet with volunteers. She had the opportunity to see, first hand, how rewarding the accessible boat trips are for families who have a child or other family member with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or a long-term, medical condition.
“It was a joy to see such an amazing team of volunteers providing accessible sailing and boating experiences and inspiring people to live their lives to the full, gain confidence and make memories to treasure,” she says. “To see the smiles on faces was truly heart-warming, and it was a privilege for the High Sheriff’s Trust to sponsor a day.”
Five local organisations sponsored the Cowes Week trips, each providing the funding for Cowes Sailability Club to charter a boat for a day. These incredibly generous and supportive organisations were: Carisbrooke Shipping, the Isle of Wight High Sheriff’s Trust, McCarthy & Booker, Royal Southern Yacht Club Trust and Wight Escapes.
Cowes Sailability Club volunteer Paul Wilks coordinated the Cowes Week activities. “The sun shone all week, and we were able to create great memories for lots of Isle of Wight families,” he says. “When a child or another family member has a disability or is anxious in new situations, it can be very difficult for parents to find new activities that everyone can enjoy together. Cowes Sailability Club aims to help by arranging trips that are fully accessible and providing a welcoming, supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable. It was a real pleasure to see so many families smiling, laughing and having a great time together.”
The Cowes Week trips departed from East Cowes Marina and took place aboard Wetwheels Solent, a nine-metre catamaran that can accommodate up to ten passengers, including three wheelchair users, at any one time. The boat is owned and operated by Wetwheels Solent, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that provides barrier free boating opportunities for people of all ages and all abilities.
“I am very grateful to our sponsors, all of the volunteers who helped throughout the week and the crew of Wetwheels for their support,” says Roger Sutton, Cowes Sailability Club’s Commodore. “I would particularly like to thank East Cowes Marina for providing a berth for Wetwheels and facilities where Cowes Sailability Club’s volunteers could greet participants. This is the 9th year that Cowes Sailability Club has organised accessible boat trips during Cowes Week, and the event was another great success.”
Image Credit: Michael Dunkason