A record year for accessible sailing club

Isle of Wight based charitable organisation Cowes Sailability Club says that 2023 has been a record year for the club, with it offering 1,112 places on accessible motor and sailing boats for disabled people, their carers and families. 

According to the club, this achievement has been made possible, in part, by the acquisition earlier this year of a new Drascombe longboat, which increased the number of places available for weekly sailing by 50 per cent. 

In addition, Cowes Sailability Club successfully secured additional funding from grant providers including WightAID, the Eight Foundation and the Bruce Wake Charitable Trust, enabling the club to charter the wheelchair accessible motorboat Wetwheels Hamble for additional trips throughout the spring, summer and early autumn. 

“I’ve been volunteering with Cowes Sailability Club for many years, and this was undoubtedly our busiest year yet,” comments Cowes Sailability Club trustee Paul Wilks.  “There are so many people with disabilities on the island, and being able to provide more opportunities for them to enjoy a water-based activity has been incredibly rewarding.”

Roger Sutton, commodore of Cowes Sailability Club, comments: “We would not have been able to achieve this success without the support of our many volunteers and local organisations including, in particular, Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club and East Cowes Marina. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us to provide so many wonderful experiences for people with disabilities this year.”

Planning and fundraising has already begun for 2024.

Main image courtesy of Cowes Sailability Club.