The newsletter of RYA Sailability Summer 2011 …...the ROs. As one of the newest, I have found them to be stimulating, helpful and extremely informative. I look forward to the next

Making disability plain sailing www.rya.org.uk/sailability 0844 556 9550

The newsletter of RYA Sailability

FOGHORN Summer 2011

Skipper Vicki Sheen and her crew have won the first-place trophy in the 2011 World Blind Sailing Championship hosted by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Australia. The victory, in March, was particularly sweet for Vicki, who had a number of setbacks last year. Vicki, with Nick Donnini on mainsheet and Dennis Manning on headsail, maintained top position throughout two round robins and the finals. "Royal Perth Yacht Club gave us great support all the way through the competition, expecting us to be lucky not to come last – we were the underdogs completely. I almost held my breath all the way through the last three races. It was like a dream. I had to check with the umpires we were clear, had won, and there were no more races to go.” The International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) is seeking to introduce blind match racing as a new discipline within the Paralympic Sailing Competition commencing in 2020. This event is the first in the proposed new three person format. Vicki, who is head of physiotherapy for Torbay Care Trust, works hard to promote sailing for people with sight loss, and has launched a £5,000 appeal to buy a set of audio buoys for visually impaired sailors in Torbay. To donate to the appeal, phone her on 07841 421111. See page 8 for Vicki’s account of her struggle to the top

Vicki Sheen and her crew win 2011 World

Blind Match Racing Championships

Dennis Manning, Nick Donnini and Vicki Sheen: delighted with their victory

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FOGHORN Summer 2011

RYA National Pirate Day 2011

2

RYA Pirate Day, the annual national fundraising day for RYA Sailability, takes place on 9 July 2011, when sailing clubs all over the country will be running events and activities, on or off the water, to raise money.

If you haven‟t already organised something, there‟s still time! Your Pirate Day

could involve anything from a collection tin in your club to a treasure hunt, quiz or club BBQ, or even a boat park jumble sale. It‟s up to you!

The theme of the day is pirates but that doesn‟t mean you can‟t get imaginative in how you fundraise. The idea is to have fun and enjoy an event that suits your club and members, whilst raising vital funds to support RYA Sailability. Every donation really helps.

If you are already in the process of arranging a fundraising event for RYA Sailability please contact us and let us know what you are planning - email [email protected].

We would love to share your ideas and events, together with club logos and photos. Please share your event ideas on the RYA Sailability Facebook site www.facebook.com/pages/RYA-Sailability/112236888801688.

An easy way to collect donations or raise money for RYA Sailability Pirate Day is via Just Giving at www.justgiving.com/RYA-Pirate-Day. Alternatively, donations can be accepted in cash, cheque (made payable to RYA Sailability), card payment or via text message - text RYAS11 £(your amount) to 70070.

With your help and support we aspire to develop a national flagship event which will help raise the profile of RYA Sailability.

Multiclass Regatta 2011

This year’s Multiclass Regatta will take place at

Rutland Sailing Club on 12, 13 and 14 August.

Classes will include:

Neo 495 Stratos SKUD Access 2.4mR

Challenger Sonar

For further details, please contact the event co-ordinator, Jo Bentley, on 07789 991603 or [email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/RYA-Sailability/112236888801688

http://www.facebook.com/pages/RYA-Sailability/112236888801688

http://www.justgiving.com


FOGHORN Summer 2011 3

Regional organisers’ conference Regional Organiser Warren Price reports on this year’s first Regional Organisers’ meeting, held in the North West, at Crosby Lakeside Centre in Liverpool in February.

The venue is unique, insofar as it is not only a water activity centre but also provides a fully-accessible gym, restaurant, bar and accommodation for 20 people. Each of the rooms had en-suite facilities and was equipped to a good standard.

The day did not start off as planned. A thick fog had descended on the North West and was affecting both the motorway and airports. My role, being the „local boy‟, was to meet and collect Debbie Blachford and her group from the airport. No problem, except that I went to Liverpool and they were flying to Manchester!

Whoops! A few phone calls later everything was sorted - I would stay at Liverpool and meet Andy Fell whose flight was due in at 10.10am from Southampton. Unfortunately, it was delayed and then at 11.00am diverted to Leeds! I eventually arrived at Crosby at 11.30am, an hour-and-a-half late.

The meeting was very positive, with a great deal of information on national initiatives and

discussions between national organising bodies, including EFDS (English Federation of Disability Sport). We were introduced to the newest member of the team, Lorna Conder, who now works at Hamble. By this time Andy had arrived from Leeds, just in time for lunch!

One of the best aspects of having a meeting is the time we get to work together to discuss problems, share ideas and plan future activities. All of these took place during the two days we spent together.

Tony Wood from the South West provided a very good insight into his role as RYA Regional Development Officer; supporting clubs, inspections and assessing RTCs, encouraging participation and providing training. One of Tony‟s sessions allowed us to audit our area and then draft out a development plan and identify various actions. This gave me a framework to work with for the coming season.

We, as a team, only meet up two or three times a year. so these meetings are of great value to the ROs. As one of the newest, I have found them to be stimulating, helpful and extremely informative.

I look forward to the next one.

We now have over 900 people linking with RYA Sailability on Facebook. We would like you to join us, to make it a great site for sharing updates and news with other clubs, and for individuals interested in gaining information on sailing for people affected by disability.

RYA Sailability are using Facebook daily, not only to receive enquiries from supporters and interested parties, but also to update people on:

News from sailing clubs and ROs Event information and updates (such as the Multiclass Regatta in August, and the next RYA Sailability Annual Conference)

Images (of clubs, people and equipment) Team news (from the racing world and Paralympic squad)

We would like you to update your news, events and photos whenever you can so that everyone is aware of the Sailability activities taking place across the UK. This will also be a great forum to share and gain news, advice and tips with other clubs. If you would like to join us, please go to Facebook and „like‟ RYA Sailability. If you are already a fan of RYA Sailability – thank you. Please keep sharing your news and photos.

Sailability on Facebook



RYA Sailability Volunteer Award winners

Some 100 delegates from Sailability groups across the country attended the fourth annual Sailability conference and dinner at Wyboston Lakes on 12 February 2011, when the winners of the RYA Sailability Volunteer Awards were honoured.

The RYA Sailability Volunteer Awards, presented by RYA Sailability Trustee Robyn Griffith-Jones, recognise the priceless voluntary contribution by Sailability volunteers and are awarded in three categories; Significant Contribution, Outstanding Contribution and Exceptional Contribution.

The winner of the Significant Contribution Award went to 88-year-old Harold Codd of the Colne Valley Special Sailors (CVSS) who has multi-tasked within the group for the last ten years, from tea boy to current trustee. He has been instrumental in recruiting new members, fundraising, building members‟ confidence and helping wherever required.

The Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Roy Beard from Grafham Sailability for his involvement in Sailability over the past 14 years. Filling many roles within the group, Roy has devoted many hours assisting disabled people to escape their disability on the water.

The award for Exceptional Contribution was presented to Sue Collingridge from Lymington Sailability in honour of her work over the last decade. Despite being disabled herself from a stroke at an early age, she works tirelessly to champion sailing for disabled people.

On receiving her award Sue said: “I am very proud. Lymington Sailability have given me far more than I have given Lymington Sailability.”

The dinner also saw sailing legend Geoff Holt introduce the evening‟s guest speaker, record breaking rower Sarah Outen who commented: “It is an honour to be here. I have a big heart for Sailability and all that Sailability does.”

Sarah‟s tale of her record breaking voyage across the Indian Ocean was both inspirational and enchanting leaving guests desperate to follow her next challenge.

In April 2012 Sarah will travel from one end of the world to another rowing the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, cycling the continents in-between and also kayaking various stretches of water.

RYA Sailability Conference

Earlier in the day RYA Chairman Richard Langford had opened the conference welcoming delegates and congratulating Geoff Holt on his Yachtsman of the Year awards and Val Millward on her victory in the John Merricks Tiger Trophy. Richard also expressed that he was keen to get even more people involved in RYA Sailability and that the current system which combines the charity, the RYA and the Sailability groups was one which is working extremely well.

Sue Collingridge receives her Exceptional Contribution award from Robyn Griffith-Jones



Throughout the day, delegates were treated to a variety of guest speakers including the inspirational Beginner to Winner Pathway presentation from Matt Grier, RYA Disability Racing Development Coach and a talk from Keith Coxen introducing model yacht racing as a sport for all ages and abilities.

There were interactive workshop sessions with six different topics available to attend, including fundraising, communication and marketing your centre, the new volunteer logbook and training scheme (see page 6), website top tips, expanding youth sailing and how to organise an event.

The sessions gave delegates the chance to get up-to-date with the latest advice and information as well as putting their own questions to the experts.

Nigel Thompson from Belfast Lough Sailability said: “It has been a great day and extremely informative. The workshops I attended were especially helpful and it is fantastic to be able to speak to experts who really know what they are talking about. I have also really enjoyed the chance to meet people from other Sailability centres.”

Debbie Blachford, RYA Sailability Manager commented: “Thank you to all the delegates who attended. It is wonderful to see so many people involved with Sailability coming together and being able to receive all the latest news and information as well as being able to network with other like-minded people.”

The East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST), The Somerset Youth and Community Sailing Association (SYCSA) and the Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club (IOS) were announced as winners in the finals of the 2010 Lottery – People‟s Millions at the end of last year. EAST won the vote in the East Anglia area for their project to transform an old redundant building into a new Waterside Community Centre, providing its growing number of disabled sailors with a new modern headquarters and workshop. SYCSA, a non-profit making charitable organisation run by volunteers at Durleigh Sailing Club, won the vote in the ITV West region with plans to offer free sailing lessons and taster sessions to over 500 new sailors of all ages and abilities each year from 2011 to 2013. They will also use the funding to add more dinghies to their fleet. The Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club (IOS), in the ITV East region, plans to improve facilities for disabled people by creating better access to the clubhouse, widening the front door, installing ramps and introducing changing facilities, and is hoping that the money will get its RYA Sailability programme off the ground. Tony Wood, RYA Regional Development Officer in the South West, said: “It‟s absolutely fantastic that people have picked up their phones and voted for these local projects which introduce sailing to the community. Clubs often rely entirely on the work of volunteers so to win funding from a competition like The People‟s Millions really is a massive help and shows that locally, people are behind their hard work.”

People’s millions for

disabled sailors

Save the date The next RYA Sailability Annual Conference will take place on 25 February 2012.

FOGHORN Summer 2011


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Supporting volunteers

RYA Sailability has launched a new pilot scheme to inspire, recognise and train its invaluable able-bodied and disabled volunteer network. Funded by the Sailability Trust and Sport England, TEAM Sailability is a structured learning scheme that supports volunteers in developing the skills they need to give sailors a consistently positive experience, and supports the development of sites in line with Sailability‟s best practice guidelines. Sailability volunteers are arguably the most diverse group of volunteers in the sport, including carers with no sailing experience, members of sailing clubs with no previous disability awareness experience and local people who want to get involved in a worthwhile community activity. These volunteers complement the work of the highly-qualified instructors and coaches who deliver Sailability. The scheme is currently being trialled at 21 very different sites, including Dubai. Experienced and new volunteers receive a logbook to record their personal progression. There are four certificate levels to attain – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – which reflect the increasingly challenging nature of the skills required as the scheme progresses. The logbook provides a clear understanding of the skills needed to be effective in the Sailability environment at each level, while enabling individuals to set their own goals to match their volunteering ambitions and recognising their achievement. It also provides Sailability sites with a nationwide standard of competence, meaning they can more effectively allocate tasks to people with the right skills and experience, creating a consistently more enjoyable experience for their sailors. The scheme recognises all of the different valuable skills that go towards making a vibrant

Sailability group, and that both able-bodied and disabled volunteers are able to succeed at any level. Otley Sailability is one of the pilot sites and has already awarded one bronze, five silver and three gold awards. The first holders of the RYAS Team Sailability Platinum Volunteer Award are long-standing, experienced volunteers. During a workshop at the Sailability Conference in February Joanna Bentley ran a series of well-attended sessions to introduce the scheme to other Sailability sites. Representatives from across the country had the opportunity to learn about the scheme to grill Sailability staff about the details.

Geoff Holt, who attended one of the workshops, said: “The clear structure of the scheme, enables all volunteers both on shore and on the water, whether able bodied or disabled, to develop their skills and qualifications. It places equal emphasis on the valuable contribution of ALL volunteers, not just those on the water. It is a great piece of work and I imagine that it will appeal to both clubs and volunteers. In fact, I see no reason why the Volunteer Logbook couldn‟t form part of mainstream sailing club volunteer programmes as well.”

Debbie Blachford (left) and Helena Lucas launch the new logbook at the Dinghy Show

FOGHORN Summer 2011


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The Hebe Haven Sailability Trust in Hong Kong hosted its first RYA Disability Awareness Training programme in March. It was aimed at those who have little or no experience in working with disabled people and designed to highlight the considerations for introducing disabled sailors to the sport.

Thirty participants attended the first two days, and included sailing centre staff from Hebe Haven Yacht Club (HHYC), Aberdeen Boat Club and Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Also attending were Sailability HK Committee members and general club members who had registered their interest in volunteering to assist with future Sailability HK programmes.

The programme was divided into modules which addressed visual impairment, deafness, physical challenges and learning disabilities. The goal was to impart a level of understanding to help participants lower the barriers to disabled people and facilitate their participation in a range of sailing experiences. The shore-based theoretical components each morning were structured around practical exercises with group participation and feedback. In the afternoons the group took to the water in the six Sailability HK Access dinghies and four of HHYC‟s Laser Bahias to discover first-hand the challenge of sailing a boat without vision, following instructions without hearing or sight and manoeuvring with limited mobility. It was equally challenging for those participants who were required to develop techniques to safely guide and instruct their disabled sailing partner. Additional topics included equipment and adaptations, techniques for transferring disabled sailors safely into and out of boats, and environmental constraints in using club facilities and how to manage these.

Day three was a Train the Trainer programme, directed at a much smaller group of ten participants who were identified as being in a position to deliver either the shore-based

component or sail training component of this programme in the future. This day concentrated on presentation skills, with all participants required to design and present a module of the programme. The challenges of volunteer enlistment and volunteer roles were also addressed.

All participants were presented with certificates of attendance and the club has been provided with valuable training materials in order to proceed to the next level of in-house training. The paperwork has been completed for Sailability HK to seek Foundation Status with RYA Sailability.

The event received positive response from all participants and was seen as an excellent platform from which to launch future Sailability HK initiatives. Significant inter-club relationships were forged which will hopefully lead to an integrated approach to delivering Sailability experiences to the wider Hong Kong community. Credit must go to HHYC management for their ongoing support of the Sailability venture. It is a ground-breaking initiative for Hong Kong sailing and one which will further enhance the recognition of Hebe Haven Yacht Club as a club of excellence.

Sandra Snell Sailability Committee Member & Training

Programme Coordinator

Disability awareness programme in Hong Kong

RYA Sailability provides Awareness Training

to UK Sailability sites free of charge.

For further details please contact Andrew Fell,

RYA Sailability National Trainer

07825 686861 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



What a difference a year makes

Vicki Sheen tells her story of triumph over adversity.

Just over a year ago, I was struggling just to get around. Penny, my much-loved third guide dog was slowly grinding to a halt; desperate to keep me safe, she was stopping several feet short of doors and steps and walking at a speed which unfortunately continually left me stepping out ahead of her. Doggedly determined to continue, desperately wagging her tail and pushing her head into her harness whenever it was taken up, she was faithfully trying to keep working. Realistically however, the situation impacted severely on both my ability at work and my confidence and willingness to travel around the country for training and sailing competitions. I had recently gained promotion, becoming the head of physiotherapy for a successful Health and Social Care Trust. My job was no longer based in a physiotherapy department on one hospital site, but instead required me to attend meetings, hospitals and teams based over a wide geographical area, as well as national conferences. A daunting proposition when nurturing a failing guide dog.

A further challenge at that time was my development of the medical condition termed

cluster headaches, which presented as acute untreatable pain behind my right eye. Diagnosed in part by their lack of response to migraine or other pain relief measures, they became more frequent, until finally in September last year they were almost daily and resulted in me struggling home at night and simply holding my head in pain while my ever-patient husband dealt with everything else. Things do come in threes, and this goes for good experiences as well as bad. Exeter Guide Dogs found a match for me - a replacement for the long-suffering Penny. Another yellow Labrador, but breaking with my

tradition of three female dogs, this time it was to be a boy, Zorro, soon to be renamed Zeke. The second good thing to happen was the discovery that I didn‟t suffer from cluster headaches, but instead had been experiencing increasing episodes of acute glaucoma. With an eye condition of retinitis pigmentosa, resulting in substantial loss of vision from birth, acute glaucoma was not anticipated. Not having enough residual vision, I did not realise that the sudden curtaining effect and complete loss of light perception were not due to the cluster headaches but instead to an eye pressure of more than double the normal amount. Finally, a cure was at hand. It was too late to save any vision but I did have complete resolution of pain following laser surgery. Now fully mobile with a new guide dog and no longer laid low by pain, I could resume my passion for competitive sailing. Last November, December and January, the



What a difference a year makes continued

Blind Sailing Association arranged four training sessions in Cowes. The focus for the training was to develop a squad of visually-impaired sailors equipped with skills to match race. This was in preparation for the World Blind Match Racing Championship in Perth Australia, using Sonar keelboats using a special sailing system comprising three acoustic buoys, each with a unique signal, to define the course. Boats also had their own sound signals that changed when on port or starboard tack. Following the winter training a UK team was selected. Unfortunately I had not been successful in gaining a place on this team, but I was told: “You could put together a second team but it would be very expensive for you and you could be very disappointed.” I arranged to sail with Nick Donnini and Dennis Manning, two other sailors passionate about sailing, and with lots of encouragement from the Australia blind sailing team, we decided at the eleventh hour to form a team and go to Perth. Royal Perth Yacht Club gave us great support all the way through the competition, expecting us to be lucky not to come last. We were rather surprised therefore on our first day‟s racing, to win four out of four races and find ourselves in the lead. In a quiet moment between races, I asked Nick, my tactician, a chartered surveyor from Derbyshire who had recently become partially sighted through a retinal occlusion: “Is it true you used to be an officer in the Territorial Army?” “Yes,” Nick replied, “I used to jump out of helicopters onto the roofs of houses, breaking through into the buildings.” I asked: “Wasn‟t that stressful?” With a grin Nick said: “Not as nerve-wracking as spending a week match racing with you.”

We were the underdogs. Then suddenly, we had won sixteen out of nineteen races, I almost held my breath all the way through the semi-finals and finals. It was like a dream. Following team hugs all round, I had to check with the umpires we were clear, and really had won the championship. Denis has returned to his first love, that of racing his dinghy, while Nick and I are planning to get further match racing experience and take part in this summer‟s Italian open blind sailing national championship in June, and then the 2012 World Match Racing Blind Sailing Championships here in the UK. Unlike my previous three dogs, Zeke loves boats and sailing. Though only invited out when cruising, he has learned to scale the ladder from the inflatable dinghy onto our friend‟s yacht. Keen to go from side to side as the boat tacks and desperate to help with and contribute to all tasks and activities aboard, ears blown back and nose scenting the breeze he really does try and imitate the image of a salty sea dog.

FOGHORN Summer 2011


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Roundup 2010

Volunteers recognised by The Queen

Fishbourne Sailability Club from Cowes was announced as one of 103 UK volunteering groups to win 2010‟s The Queen‟s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups. The prestigious national honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard. Fishbourne Sailability Club received the Award for providing affordable water sporting activities for disabled residents of the Isle of Wight, and was presented with a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White, at a special ceremony. The group also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

Northern Sailability Regatta

The inaugural regatta of Northern Sailability included participants from schools across Yorkshire and Lancashire and took place at the end of September 2010. It was a regatta for children and young adults up to the age of 19 with complex learning needs. Being a Yorkshire/Lancashire affair it soon developed into a „war of the roses‟ and took on a red and white theme with tablecloths, napkins, roses and even fairy cakes with icing to match. The day was attended by a total of 19 competitors from 9 schools all over the region. In addition, there were a number of guests including helpers and sponsors, and the Otley Town Mayor and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds headed the list. Debbie Blachford and her Sailability TV crew were there too. All the guests thoroughly enjoyed the day and stayed from beginning to end. The Deputy Lord Mayor was so impressed that he insisted on going on the water in the rescue craft, in his three piece suit, crombie and brogues (although the mayoral chains had to be left onshore). Whilst in the powerboat he even assisted in a rescue off the lee shore. Two races were held, each with 10 competing boats. The first race was a 1, 2, 3 to Lancashire and the second race was a 1, 2, 3 to Yorkshire, so honours were shared!

Left to right: Brian Gay - Commodore Fishbourne Sailability Club, The Lord Lieutenant, Major General Martin White CB CBE JP, Patrick de Peyer, Michael Foale - Vice Commodore FSC, Ben Hopkins - Bosun, Pam Wilson – Volunteer, Geoff Holt, Philippe Wines - Rear Commodore Sailing FSC

FOGHORN Summer 2011


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Echo Tall Ships Challenge

The Lord Nelson is one of the Jubilee Sailing Trusts (JST) two class A tall ships, purpose-built to enable people of all physical and sensory abilities to take an equally active role in sailing. Chris Ward reports on an extraordinary trip.

In September 2010 a group of 40 people including 17 with physical disabilities from the Echo Centre, (a day resource for people with a physical disability in Liskeard Cornwall), set sail from Cardiff to Poole on a trip of a lifetime. They were supported by a team of buddies who included ACS staff, businessmen, an artist and GPs. The intention was to spread the word about what people with disabilities can accomplish and this was certainly achieved. The total cost (£25,000) of the trip was raised by the group through fundraising events and grants. 385 miles were completed during the week with 50% under sail! Leaving Cardiff harbour, we had a fantastic sail and anchored for the night with a view of the beautiful Coombe Martin on the north Devon coast. The day started early, with mess duties to complete, food to cook and people got up, washed and dressed whilst coping with a rolling boat. Watches were well under way – four-hour shifts, day and night, throughout the trip. These were accompanied by a daily „happy hour‟. This did not involve alcohol; the ship was cleaned from top to toe, decks scrubbed, brass shone and toilets and showers made so clean you could eat off them! Smoko happened mid morning and mid afternoon – it normally involved drinks and fantastic home-made cakes and

cookies made by chef Dave and his team of helpers on mess duty – definitely a reward for the hard work. We had beautiful sunshine and blue skies at the beginning and end of the week. The middle period was force 9 gale – 30% roll and rain! We mastered the art of moving around on a rolling ship. Norma threw her sticks away and walked: “I thought it was wonderful and am amazed that I went up the mast,” she said. 70-year-old Brian moved around like a 2-year-old and never missed a duty.

Mast climbing was exciting, emotional and exhilarating. We saw, we climbed and we conquered, whether in a wheelchair or on foot, whether able-bodied or with one leg. Chris Ward said for him “the climbing day in Dartmouth where Carl and Pete showed us that one leg can be better than two when it comes to shinning up a 100 foot mast was a highlight”.

The achievements of everyone were immense. Helen and Sean conquered their fear of heights, made it to the top and furled sails on the yard arm! Norma, Charlotte and Donna climbed to the crow‟s nest, conquering their disabilities and pain to achieve the goal. “Assisting Charlotte‟s climb and glimpsing her sense of achievement in getting up to the crow's nest was very special,” said Graham. David, Louise and Tracy were hoisted aloft in chairs and marvelled at the fantastic view of Dartmouth harbour. The gold star goes to Carl who despite having a leg amputated and severe pain in his existing leg managed to haul himself to the very top! He said: “The climb was hard work but very good. I never thought I could do it. It has made me more determined to move forward with my life.”

Roundup 2010 continued

FOGHORN Summer 2011


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From Coombe Martin and around Land‟s End we experienced force 9 gales, rain, swell and rock and roll. Half the crew were seasick but continued to work, sick bags in hands. The wheelchairs were tied to the deck and people strapped on in order to continue supporting the sailing of the ship. Chris said: “After most of the crew had been suffering from seasickness, coming down to breakfast with a full gale blowing and finding the lower mess full of people stuffing down a fried breakfast with shrieks of laughter, led by mess- man/cheerleader Nuala, was a high point of the trip.” Louise Rogers said: “Just trying to sit on the toilet was an adventure.”

The permanent crew and ship‟s volunteers supported the rather rowdy Echo group with their tasks and learnt to understand their sense of humour, teaching them new skills and assisting them to gain confidence and self-esteem through their fantastic achievements. Donna started the week with periods of emotional tears but said at the end of the week: “I had a brilliant time on the voyage. I was challenged in every sense of the word, and I feel like I've actually achieved something. It was a life-changing experience and I would absolutely love to go again.”

The run ashore at Dartmouth proved a success and a great time was had by all site-seeing and frequenting local hostelries! How people managed to complete their watches and work the following day I am not sure! Margarette, who is mostly restricted to her small flat, grinned from ear to ear for the whole trip. When all around her were flagging she was heard to say that the trip was “lovely”!

Mandy (watch leader) said: “For me the trip was

fantastic, watching people rise to challenges that seemed impossible. There was me terrified hanging off a yard arm while wheelchair users were swinging through the air waving at onlookers on the shore beaming from ear to ear!

Kathy said: “My „magical moment‟ occurred when I least expected it, during a night watch sometime after 4am. The instruments read gale force 8-9 with relentless rain, wind and cold biting at us from every angle. We hung on to

our safety lines and forced back all thoughts of seasickness. Just as I was day-dreaming of my warm and cosy bunk I caught a glimpse of my fellow crewmates and saw exhilaration and pure joy etched out in their faces whilst riding out the storm, facing all that nature could throw at us. Gone were all thoughts of discomfort and

pain, this is what real sailing is all about and I knew at that moment I was privileged to be part of it.” The camaraderie was great, lots of laughter and tears of joy, pranks after a few drinks... Margaret always with a smile on her face wanting to participate in everything from cleaning the ship‟s bell to helming (she did a great job). The Echo staff never stopped giggling, always on hand to help”

The cost of the trip was far outweighed by the therapeutic benefits physically, emotionally and psychologically. The long term benefits have yet to be assessed but perhaps regular trips such as this should be included in rehab programmes to enable people to regain the confidence to pursue a purposeful life.

Roundup 2010 continued - Tall Ships Challenge



“Although I have a lot of physical problems I have never seen myself as different from anyone else. I am a strong believer that you can do anything in life – you just have to believe in yourself.”

Poole Sailability Chairman Chris Thomas said Caroline was an inspiration to all members. The money raised will be used to purchase vital equipment and help other people with disabilities get on the water.

Caroline conquers Ben Nevis for Sailability

Despite the fact that she was born with spina bifida and wears an artificial leg, 27-year-old Caroline Beckett has completed her personal challenge to climb Ben Nevis to raise money for Poole Sailability. She prepared for the tough challenge by training three times a week in the gym, walking and cycling.

Caroline, who works as a carer, has endured years of operations, but this did not dampen her determination to get to the top. After a year of gruelling preparation, she finally completed her challenge last summer, taking 29 hours to achieve it. She was accompanied by her family and her fiancé Andy (their wedding was a few weeks later). She was a guest of honour at Poole Sailability‟s end-of-season award night, when she presented the club with over £3000 that she had raised in sponsorship.

Caroline commented: “When I said I wanted to walk up Ben Nevis, a lot of people said I wouldn‟t be able to do it. As soon as someone says I can‟t do something I make sure I do it!

Erith gets two new Challengers

Two new Challenger Trimarans were launched at Erith Yacht Club by Erith‟s Deputy Mayor, Cllr James Spencer and his wife in April.

The Challengers have stable platforms that stop them from capsizing. They can be launched with the sailor already on board and the controls are centralised in the cockpit directly in front of the sailor, making them easier to negotiate.

During their time at the club, Councillor and Mrs Spencer also went afloat on the club's launch and enjoyed the views from the river.

"These new boats are a real asset to the club," said the Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure, Arts and Tourism, Cllr Peter Catterall. "They will allow even more

local people to enjoy all the club has to offer."

The new boats were funded through the Sport England Community Investment Fund.

Roundup 2010 continued



Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre is celebrating after being awarded £18,000 to give even more disabled people in Worcestershire the chance to get involved in sailing.

The Bromsgrove centre has invested in two new Access 303 dinghies and a special disability pontoon and hoist facilities, doubling its previous provision, after receiving the grant boost from the Aiming Higher fund via the Hereford and Worcestershire County Sport Partnership.

Upton Warren OEC is an established, recognised RYA Sailability site providing opportunities for disabled people to learn to sail and to sail regularly.

The new Access dinghies will allow the centre to host more sailors on the water at the same time, while the new pontoon and hoist will improve access to the water for those with even the most severe physical disabilities.

In the past year, no fewer than 150 young people, aged between 8 and 20, from local special schools, have sailed at Upton Warren OEC through the RYA Onboard grassroots scheme, which provides local youngsters with opportunities to sail regularly at low cost.

Tom Davenport, RYA OnBoard Development

Foghorn is the official newsletter of RYA Sailability

for all Sailability clubs. It is published three times a

year by

RYA Sailability

RYA House

Ensign Way

Hamble

Southampton SO31 4YA

Registered Charity No. 1084351

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sailability. To contribute articles, or to request hard

copies, e-mail versions or text versions, e-mail Connie

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Opinions expressed in Foghorn are not necessarily

those of the editor or the RYA.

Grant boost for disability sailing in Worcestershire

Officer for the Birmingham Partnership, said: “We‟ve worked closely with Martyn Collis, who coordinates RYA Sailability in the West Midlands, and are delighted to be able to extend the opportunities to get more disabled people sailing at Upton Warren. Sailing is a hugely sociable sport and Sailability groups are an integral part of so many sailing clubs and centres in the UK that it is much more than simply going out on the water in a boat. Meanwhile the achievement, and enjoyment, that comes from getting afloat is huge. Self esteem is, without question, one of the biggest things people get from sailing.”

For further information about sailing opportunities at Upton Warren OEC visit www.uptonwarren.com

http://www.uptonwarren.com

Documents

The newsletter of RYA Sailability Summer 2011 …...the ROs. As one of the newest, I have found them to be stimulating, helpful and extremely informative. I look forward to the next