SvenH
Active member
A friend of mine has to use a wheelchair in daily life. She has no use of herlegs whatsoever due to an accident.
Sailing brings great joy and she is well experienced in boat handling but has had no practice in soloing since she has lost the use of her legs.
We are getting close to actually buying a boat so she can start working out how much actually is possible, what would need to be learned and what would need to be altered on the boat.
Part one of this big adventure is just trial and error, without changing a boat so much that it would be unsellable afterwards. But off course we want to get the best boat possible to start with.
One year ago we saw two Freedom 35's passing by and the sun can out immediately. The freedom rig (Dual unstayed wishbone rigs) Offers the kind of easy handling that would make a huge difference. But they are expensive and the deck layout is a bit cluttered for someone who can not walk.
We have also seen videos of Wyliecat, the same wishbone rig, very easy handling but they seem very focussed on Northern America.
Another option could be a junk rig but the relatively high weight of the sails could be too difficult to handle.
So, to start with, do you have any suggestions for a boat for this kind of situation? The most important things so far:
Cabin sailer
Very easy rig
clean and uncluttered deck
(Space for) shower
about 10 meters long
Area Inland IJsselmeer, Netherlands
Other things like getting on and off and actually moving about are actually not as much of a problem as one might think.
Sailing brings great joy and she is well experienced in boat handling but has had no practice in soloing since she has lost the use of her legs.
We are getting close to actually buying a boat so she can start working out how much actually is possible, what would need to be learned and what would need to be altered on the boat.
Part one of this big adventure is just trial and error, without changing a boat so much that it would be unsellable afterwards. But off course we want to get the best boat possible to start with.
One year ago we saw two Freedom 35's passing by and the sun can out immediately. The freedom rig (Dual unstayed wishbone rigs) Offers the kind of easy handling that would make a huge difference. But they are expensive and the deck layout is a bit cluttered for someone who can not walk.
We have also seen videos of Wyliecat, the same wishbone rig, very easy handling but they seem very focussed on Northern America.
Another option could be a junk rig but the relatively high weight of the sails could be too difficult to handle.
So, to start with, do you have any suggestions for a boat for this kind of situation? The most important things so far:
Cabin sailer
Very easy rig
clean and uncluttered deck
(Space for) shower
about 10 meters long
Area Inland IJsselmeer, Netherlands
Other things like getting on and off and actually moving about are actually not as much of a problem as one might think.