Sailing with disabled crew

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Swanrad2

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Hi,
A friend of mine has a grandson who would love to come sailing on our boat, the kid is 10 and wheelchair bound with limited physical strength. We can get him on the boat but would like to let him 'have a go'. Has anyone got any ideas as to how we can best achieve this? He can use a wheelchair with joystick controls but no experience of anything like this on boats.
Cheers,
Tony
 
Swanrad2 said:
Hi,
A friend of mine has a grandson who would love to come sailing on our boat, the kid is 10 and wheelchair bound with limited physical strength. We can get him on the boat but would like to let him 'have a go'. Has anyone got any ideas as to how we can best achieve this? He can use a wheelchair with joystick controls but no experience of anything like this on boats.
Cheers,
Tony
Click to expand...

The best person to ask is probably the lad himself. Take him for a sail and ask what he would like to do and what you'd have to do to make it possible for him. If you google "disabled children sailing" you'll find all sort of groups who enable people in wheelchair to go sailing in everything from dinghies to great big yachts: http://www.sailing.org/disabled and http://www.disabledsailing.org/ both look useful to me.
 
Swanrad2 said:
Hi,
A friend of mine has a grandson who would love to come sailing on our boat, the kid is 10 and wheelchair bound with limited physical strength. We can get him on the boat but would like to let him 'have a go'. Has anyone got any ideas as to how we can best achieve this? He can use a wheelchair with joystick controls but no experience of anything like this on boats.
Cheers,
Tony
Click to expand...

Check out 'sailability'.
 
Swanrad2 said:
Hi,
A friend of mine has a grandson who would love to come sailing on our boat, the kid is 10 and wheelchair bound with limited physical strength. We can get him on the boat but would like to let him 'have a go'. Has anyone got any ideas as to how we can best achieve this? He can use a wheelchair with joystick controls but no experience of anything like this on boats.
Cheers,
Tony
Click to expand...

- Arrange for him to sit somewhere that he can see where he's going and let him use a tiller extension
- take some non-slip material for him to sit on
- let him see/use a chart

doesn't just have to be sailing:
- binoculars and a bird/wildlife book
- fishing
- practical knotting

and if he's hooked, point him at available resources .. here's my son using the Calvert Trust's Challenger trimaran on Kielder Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o4oPo9UhME, and there are plenty of groups out there like ours (http://nolimitssportsclub.org.uk/gallery)
 
I forgot: let him loose in a tender with a small outboard. Use a fender as a seat in the stern to give him support .. the freedom to easily go where he wants will leave a lasting impression - usually in the form of a big grin.
(yes, there needs to be an adult on board, but only for ballast and help if needed)
 
Hi there,
Myself and some fishing friends started a disability day about 5 years ago. The idea originally was to give disabled people a go at kayaking (on sit on top models not sit inside). From the start it was has always been a joint venture firstly with the sailing club at Llangorse, now we have moved to Clywedog, mid-wales. The sailing club has a very experienced guy who runs the sailability side of the day. Myself and other volunteers offer a paddle as well - we have single and double kayaks.
This is only once a year, and has been very successful. It's one of the highlights of the year I really look forward to, very rewarding! :) Usually held in June. Here's a link to the poster from this year: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4856206165018&set=gm.495975063804906&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

Incidently one of my mates has gone on to set up a new charity from this Heros on the Water - giving people injured in service the opportunity to experience kayak fishing. http://www.facebook.com/HeroesOnTheWaterUk?fref=ts

You're very welcome to drop me a pm if you would like any more info, I notice you're in Cheshire, if I can help please let me know! I've even got a sailing boat now! :D
 
I used to know a chap in a wheelchair, friend of a friend; one day when my boat was alongside a pontoon we got him in a harness and ' flew ' him around on a halliard; he absolutely loved the feeling of freedom, I will always remember his grin.
 
I help with Sailability; we use mainly Access dinghies, which are brilliant for use with a wide range of disabilities.

Your average cruising yacht, by contrast, is not disability-friendly. The principal difficulty could be the companionway, vital for access to the loo (another possible problem spot). (This does depend, of course, on how long you are going out for.)

Boats vary one from another, of course, as do people. So each case has to be seen on its merits. In any event, you will (at least to begin with, and probably to continue with) need a carer on board, someone well known to and trusted by the disabled person, and preferably physically strong. You will also need a crew unless you are content to sail the boat effectively single-handed.

The minefield of sailing with children who are not family members, or for that matter with vulnerable adults, shouldn't need emphasising. Another reason why you need a carer on board.

Another vote for Jubilee Sailing Trust. But there will be a special buzz from sailing in a boat which has not been adapted for disabled use. Just like anybody else can. If this can be done.

You know the lad in question, and you also know the boat, so you will know better than anyone else what is possible. Don't raise hopes unless they can be realised. Good luck!
 
For those who don't know, Access dinghies are small 1 or 2 person dinghies with a very deep heavy keel (liftable). They sit low in the water with the crew facing forward on a bench or bucket seat and are steered by simple left/right lever between the people on the 2 person version and the legs on single seater (if my memory serves me correctly). They have a relatively small easily managed sail plan with a furling jib.

A version is available with electric joystick control.

They are very stable.

http://www.sailingforall.com/spage-boats-access_2_3_wide.html

With regard to the OP.

You need to make sure that they are comfortable braced and secured are they strong enough to helm? If not could they get a feeling of steering using an auto helm (If fitted) Will they need a booster seat or something to see over the cabin roof?

Because of limited mobility they will possibly get colder quicker and tire more easily. I would suggest planning a short trip on a benign day with the option to extend it slightly if it is going well and proving enjoyable for all.

If they take to it then one of the sailability centres should be able to assist such as at Rudyard Lake near Leek Rudyard Sailability
 
Last edited:
Thanks all, autopilot with remote control I think (must exist). His carer will be there, getting him in the cabin would be impossible but with the distance we intend to travel should be unnecessary. I will contact one or two of you by PM as well.
Thanks again!
 
JumbleDuck said:
Climbing harness + main sheet?
Click to expand...
Seen that done, and it was a bit scary; although I seem to remember that a sling, designed for the purpose, was being used. There's a lot that could go wrong with a mainsheet tackle, notably if there's a cam cleat the rope could slip out easily; a fall of only a few inches could cause serious injury. Not saying it can't be done, but you need to be very aware of what could go wrong. Also the sling needs to be correctly fitted.

I'm well practised at lowering people into boats and extracting them afterwards, but we use a hoist designed for the purpose as well as a sling. We have a list of approved operators.

Agree about the power of the bum shuffle.
 
blackbeard said:
Seen that done, and it was a bit scary; although I seem to remember that a sling, designed for the purpose, was being used. There's a lot that could go wrong with a mainsheet tackle, notably if there's a cam cleat the rope could slip out easily; a fall of only a few inches could cause serious injury.
Click to expand...

A little care would be needed, but I think you may overestimate the hazards. I regularly lower children, and have lowered adults, from considerable heights on indoor climbing wall. I wasn't suggesting flying the child down, just that a climbing harness and tackle could provide support in both directions. How often does your mainsheet fail while sailing?
 
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