Please help me in my mission to compete in the Hansa TT and National events.
Your generosity will truly make a difference.
Doing so helps with funding for entry fees, support assistance and travel costs. RYA Sailability (sailing for disabled sailors) offers a unique blend of physical therapy and emotional support, fostering a sense of accomplishment and community spirit, through the liberating sport of sailing.
Sailing a Hansa Liberty is an inclusive and exciting experience, offering accessible performance sailing for all skill levels. The Liberty is designed with high coamings and wide side decks to keep sailors dry, even at extreme angles of heel. Its two high-aspect rudder blades ensure directional stability, making it suitable for both recreational and competitive sailing in open waters.
My aim is to compete in the Hansa TT (Travelling Trophy) series that are held around the country, as well as the nationals which are held annually. I have joined a group at my local sailing club (Whitefriars) who have travelled the TT circuit in the past, including the nationals, with one helm achieving second place in the latest 2025 Weymouth Hansa Nationals.
Sailing significantly improves my mental state by boosting self-esteem, confidence, and reducing stress and tension. It provides opportunities for social interaction, skill development, and a sense of accomplishment, countering isolation and promoting overall well-being. The calming effect of being on or near the water, with its sensory inputs like the sound of waves, can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation
To be able to achieve this I need funding to cover entry fees, boat hire, travel and fuel expenses, accommodation (Where required), support crews, boat maintenance and repairs, appropriate clothing and vehicle modifications to enable towing.
Please help by donating, enabling me to help and inspire others.
Sailing Beyond Limits
Disabled Sailing with RYA Sailability
Managing Disability
Adapted for Individual Needs
With more than 200 locations in the UK and internationally, Sailability offers opportunities for outdoor activities, skill development, physical exercise, and confidence-building.
If you are new to sailing, you will discover that it provides a way to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people, and acquire various skills. Sailing can have beneficial effects on both physical and mental well-being. This article aims to provide answers to common questions about sailing and guide you in starting your boating journey.
Managing disability involves combining individual strategies and workplace adjustments to ensure that people with disabilities can participate effectively. This includes understanding different models of disability, fostering a supportive environment, and implementing reasonable accommodations.
Each person with a disability has unique experiences and goes through various stages of adjustment, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
People should establish a supportive and enabling environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their needs and requesting adjustments. Effective communication and respectful interactions are crucial to alleviate or eliminate disadvantages related to a person's disability and to avoid making assumptions about their abilities.
It is important to focus on what an individual can accomplish rather than what they cannot, and to understand that adjustments suitable for one person may not be appropriate for another with the same condition. Highlighting the strengths and contributions of individuals with disabilities can promote a positive and inclusive environment.
The opportunities provided by Sailability support greater fulfilment and mental well-being.
A day at Whitefriars
Sailability
Preparing for and participating in a sailing session.
A typical day for me in a Hansa Liberty dinghy includes meticulous preparation, the use of adaptive equipment, and a focus on maximizing both enjoyment and independence while on the water. The day can typically begin with assistance in reaching the sailing location and accessing the specially adapted boat, which involves specialized lifting equipment. Once on the water, I employ joystick controls, More disabled sailors may use servos or sip-and-puff systems, with other adaptations to steer and manage the sails, enabling either solo or assisted sailing. This sailing provides me with therapeutic benefits and promotes a sense of freedom and accomplishment. Whilst on the water concentrating on the wind and sail settings to maximise performance.
The Hansa Liberty sailboat is designed to offer an accessible and enjoyable sailing experience for individuals with disabilities, including those with limited mobility. It features a single, rigid seat with substantial side support and can be equipped with servo-electric systems for sail and tiller control. This design allows individuals to sail independently or with assistance, whether for recreational purposes or competitive racing. In my case I am working towards competive sailing in the Hansa Travelling Trophy series and the Nationals held once a year.
Sailability Hansa TT
Whitefriars SC
31st May 2025
Sailability sailing 31st May in the Hansa TT (Travelling Trophies) where I entered my first competitive sail for 40 years and managed a respectable 6th place out of 9 very competent helms.
Sailing, like meditation, provides peace and connection. Water centres you, like breathing anchors you in meditation. Both activities combine stillness and movement, increasing focus and mindfulness.