Disabled Sailors Association expands services after Jubilee Sailing Trust closure
Following the closure of the disabled sail training charity Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST), the Disabled Sailors Association (DSA) has announced plans to expand its services, aiming to provide increased accessible sailing opportunities for disabled individuals and fill the gap left by JST.
In December 2023, it was announced that Jubilee Sailing Trust (Tenacious) Ltd could not continue and had also been put into administration, with all planned voyages cancelled and the tall ship Tenacious to be sold. The trust itself was placed in administration.
Southampton-based JST, which closed after struggling to fund its operational costs of £3m annually, previously offered memorable ocean sailing experiences to thousands of disabled sailors.
The DSA, which has a history of 30 years of providing inclusive sailing, currently operates two wheelchair-accessible yachts, creating 1,500 accessible sailing opportunities each year. The charity is fundraising for a new vessel that it estimates will provide another 1,000 places, allowing the DSA to exceed the scale of services once provided by JST.
Currently, 70 per cent of DSA’s sailors are aged 5 to 25. DSA says the demand has increased considerably for young people wanting disabled sailing places, including those with the most complex of disabilities. Its 25-year-old catamaran, Scott Bader, now needs replacing due to heavy use and a lifetime of wear and tear.
The DSA has launched a fundraising campaign to allow it to purchase a new, custom-built Dazcat wheelchair-accessible catamaran that will allow the charity to expand its services significantly.
The proposed new Dazcat catamaran has a design focusing specifically on the needs of disabled children, young adults, and wheelchair users. However, all sailors will be able to enjoy sailing it. “If it’s easy for a wheelchair, it’s easy for anyone,” quips Mike Wood, chair of the DSA.
The new catamaran is due for sea trials in April 2026, with an official launch slated for the 2026 Southampton Boat Show.
The DSA has collaborated with Darren Newton at Multimarine in Plymouth to produce the wide-bodied Dazcat catamaran, designed around a young person in a wheelchair.
Newton and Multimarine — based at the Multihull Centre Boatyard — have previously designed and built five similar vessels for private individuals.
“Dazcat and the Multihull Centre’s design and build teams are very proud to be working with the Disabled Sailors Association to produce a very innovative, new 15-metre fully accessible catamaran,” says Newton.
Newton confirms that the design features include a forward cockpit, enabling the boat to be sailed single-handed or fully crewed. “There is lift access into the deck and down into the hulls, so all cabins and facilities are accessible by wheelchair,” he adds. “This will enable the DSA to offer offshore passage making, overnight stays and longer trips alongside their existing day sailing experiences.
“Disabled clients will be able to expand their cruising destinations, empowering people by giving freedom and joy of adventure to many who could previously only dream of it.
“The [yacht’s] design allows everyone the opportunity to fully engage in the sailing experience or simply relax and enjoy the uplifting feeling of being on a beautiful catamaran specially designed and built for them,” says Newton.
While the JST closure has impacted the disabled sailing community, the Disabled Sailors Association says its expanded services aim to provide continuity in inclusive sailing. Plans include trans-Atlantic voyages and participation in international boat shows to promote sailing opportunities for disabled people. The DSA says it operates on an average budget of £100 per participant per year.
The DSA has already secured three-quarters of the necessary funding for this initiative, with construction of the new catamaran underway. The total cost of the catamaran is circa £1.8m, including building moulds, which lowers the cost of subsequent boats to circa £950,000.
Wood adds: “Our emphasis is now on finding sponsorship, and we have a quite spectacular offer to the right organisation.”
The DSA’s shallow-draft yachts are designed for diverse sailing experiences and are capable of navigating open seas, coastal areas and inland waterways. These options allow for various sailing opportunities, from local day trips in the Solent to international training cruises in collaboration with other charitable organisations, such as the Gwennili Trust, which supports ex-military personnel.
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