#sailability

In my chair I move by pointing my joystick the way I want to go. In the boat moving is a conversation between you, the boat, the wind, the tide, and the current. One where I am immersed in my environment.

ID: a tumblr comment by @wrenfea that reads “aw man sailing is so cool! if you don’t mind sharing, what methods did you use to make it accessible to your needs? I’d love to go sailing but am scared about having to stand for long periods. Also congrats!

Thank you and I don’t mind sharing at all! I hope you don’t mind me making a new post, there’s a lot to share and I felt this was the easiest way to do it!

I go to a sailing club that’s specifically for disabled people, so we have access to boats which are designed specifically for disabled people to sail as well as other equipment. There are volunteers who help with things like getting the boats ready and in the water so there’s absolutely no need to be able to stand at all. The group is a complete mix of ages and disabilities including people with mobility impairments, chronic illness, intellectual disability, autism and people who have become disabled as they have grown older (our oldest sailor is in his 90’s!)

The club has a few different types of boat, but the kind I sail is called a Hansa 303 which is a two handed dinghy with a heavy centreboard/keel.

These boats have a modified steering system, so instead of a tiller it’s like a mechanical joystick in the centre of the boat. I can’t use the ropes so I do the steering while the person I’m sharing a boat with will control the sails, but you can get electronic systems for both steering and handling the ropes as well, which can be controlled with electric joysticks or even things like sip and puff for so even people with no upper limb function can be in full control of a boat.

The boats come with a hammock style seat as standard, but more supportive seating can easily be fitted. I use a custom seat system which has been made for me by another member of the group who worked as an engineer on deep sea oil rigs before sustaining a spinal cord injury. It’s not perfect and I can only tolerate it for a couple of hours max and need to take extra pain medication before going out, but it allows me to sit reclined while providing lateral support for my trunk and head which is important for when the boat tips side to side. (The boats will tip when there’s a bit of wind, but are designed to be almost impossible to capsize to the point where the club I go to tried to do a capsize drill with them but had to give up because the boats remained upright even with several people trying their absolute hardest to tip them over!). I also use pressure cushions to prevent pressure sores from things like my knees being in contact with the side of the boat

I’m able to get hoisted in and out of the boats. This hoist isn’t just used for people like me who use a hoist for all transfers, it’s used by everyone who is unable to safely or comfortably step from a wobbly pontoon onto a wobbly boat (including people who normally walk unaided).

The club also has a few motor boats, including a flat bottomed boat that you can drive your wheelchair straight onto. I go out in this boat when I need to stay in my wheelchair for some reason.

I also know of another sailing group near by that has bigger sailing boats that go out to sea, and which can accommodate wheelchair users who want/ need to remain in their wheelchairs as well.

For people in the UK Sailability groups are a good place to get more information or start sailing yourself. I can’t speak for all groups, but the one I go to everyone has been really lovely and helpful when it comes to getting people on the water safely and as comfortably as possible.

ID1: a photo of five seals on a pontoon in the middle of a river

ID2: a photo of onions and burgers cooking over a fire/ end ID’s

More importantly though, I won a trophy for being last year’s most improved sailor!

It rained and there was practically no wind so we weren’t going anywhere fast, but I had an absolutely amazing time!

It’s such a good feeling to be out on the water even if you’re just drifting like I was today. The river is so beautiful from the water and it’s such a feeling of freedom.

It was so so so much fun. I saw a bird catch a fish and loads of cool bits of history including the remains of a huge mediaeval fish trap.

The set up was really great. There was a hoist to get in and out of boats and loads of people to help with the transfer (I think there were four people who helped me get into the boat and positioned correctly). The boats had adapted seats and they had lots of different cushions to help with positioning and pressure relief. I wish the boat had a bit more supportive seating – my head was propped up by a pillow and I was sliding around a little bit – but overall it was fine. The boat I was in had adapted steering which was still very hard for me to use when there was any hint of breeze but I did it!

The instructor I was with says they have the same kind of boat but with electric joystick controls to steer and pull the mainsheet (the rope that controls the big sail), which would let me have total control of the boat even when there’s more than a little breeze. I’m really excited to give that one a go!

I’m completely exhausted and probably going to be feeling this one for a while, but I think it was worth it which is what matters.

That said – I’m going back again today. But this time I’m going in a much bigger motorboat that I can drive my wheelchair directly onto. I’m really looking forward to it.