Cowes Sailability Club members experienced the thrill of a day sailing in the Solent, on the 35-foot yacht The Spirit of Scott Bader.
Over two consecutive days, members of Cowes Sailability Club had the opportunity to take part in cruises through the Solent on a 35-foot yacht that has been specially adapted to cater for people with disabilities. The participants included one wheelchair user, two people with sight impairments and several members with limited mobility.
The weather was fairly blustery on both days, with occasional downpours of rain, but all of the participants thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of powering through the waves. “The captain and crew were so professional that they made everyone on board feel safe and welcome,” says Bob Crisp, a volunteer from Cowes Sailability Club who joined one of the trips to assist members. “Everyone was able to get involved in crewing and helming the yacht, no matter what their disability, making the whole day a fantastic and incredibly rewarding experience.”
The two excursions took place on The Spirit of Scott Bader, a 35-foot catamaran owned by the Disabled Sailing Association. The charter and crew were organised for Cowes Sailability Club by the Gwennili Trust through its Day Sailing programme which runs from April to October each year. The Gwennili Trust is an approved RYA Sailability foundation organisation that shares Cowes Sailability Club’s passion for creating offshore sailing opportunities for disabled people.