Wheelchair Sailors- A Query

[Dominic]

A couple of things I have seen and read recently have made me ponder.

There is an assumption that sailing is only for the fully fit. But is this a firm rule ?

There are dinghies made for wheelchair users and there is the STA ship Lord Nelson with its lifts between decks and a wide bowsprit for chairs and their habit of lifting chairs up to the crows nest.

What of the middle range between these boats ?

Can you take a wheelchair user (I don´t even know what the currently correct term in the UK is, so don´t shoot me down on this) on a typical 35 foot AWB ? And if not, then; "Why not ?"

What are the practical problems ? (Apart from the attitude and confusion of the others on the yacht).

At first glance it just needs a couple of "strong lads" to do the moving and heaving to place the "chairman" in the right position; thereafter he can use his own strengths and skills to drive the boat and direct the crew.

(As an aside - there is nothing like an inability to run up and down from cockpit to chart table to make a skipper properly plan his pilotage and prepare his passage plan beforehand instead of cuffing it on the move.)

Does anyone have any experience of sailing with a wheelchair user on a small yacht ?
Is there a wheelchair sailor out there who can inform us ?

And more importantly is there one who is particularly patient and thick skinned who can educate the ignorant and prejudiced ? (Which probably includes me).

I have not seen a wheelchair user on a small yacht (I have seen a few one-legged or one-armed sailors) - they may be out there or they may be wanting to be out there or I have not noticed that they were out there.

Can anyone shed any light ?

The real question is how to make sure that they can come sailing, if they want to.

 

[Strathglass]

Get in touch with the RYA.
I think it comes under the title 'sailability' but don't know too much about it. I think all types of disability are covered.

Iain

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Dominic]

No.

I was after the response from individuals who may have some direct or indirect knowledge, not an organisation.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[andyball]

http://www.dsahq.org.uk/home.htm is a start if you're interested.

My wife uses a wheelchair much of the time ,so we've looked into it a bit.

You might "take" a wheelchair on a 35' awb, if you can lift it + the occupant on board & have a cockpit suited to a 2'-2'6" wide chair + the means to hold it in place, but no way on earth can a remotely std boat allow someone in a wheelchair to move around other than a small area in the cockpit.

We've seen a converted motor boat or two with removable panels to allow a chair/ramp arrangement, + a few motor boats with a hinged front so the chair can get in that way.

also http://freespace.virgin.net/solution.design/rorocat.html and http://www.dsahq.org.uk/cruise italy.htm

the dsa used to have a jetski too (+ a rib) , but it was rarely used.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

I have seen catamarans converted for wheelchairs users, but not a monohull. Doesn't mean there isn't something out there though.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[windandwave]

In 2001 the winner of the Irish Sailing Association "Champion of Champions" event (pitting the various class champion helms against each other) was a chap called Fergal Kinsella, a wheelchair user from the Irish Disabled Sailing Association. The event was held in Puppeteer 22s. The win was convincing, with Fergal beating the top Irish sailors including most of our Olympic hopefuls for 2004. Further details at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sailforce.ie>http://www.sailforce.ie</A>


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[zephyrsailor]

there is a wheelchair converted monohull. it sails out of portsolent i think. i can't remember who runs it tho sorry. mabey someone who keeps there boat in port solent could shed some light on it.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachting-school.com>http://www.yachting-school.com</A></font color=purple>

 

[andyball]

I think that'll be the DSA's one... "Verity K" ?. Seen at Northney marina for a while this summer too.

More links & photo's on disabled sailing here (the proper home page for the dsa, my previous link was from a search engine) + International Regatta for Sailors with a Disability and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sailingforthedisabled.com/>Sailing for the disabled</A>

+ (not sailing) one for quadbikes/6WD offroaders for disabled people <A target="_blank" HREF=http://garnetaccessproject.tripod.com/>here</A>



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[circumnavigation]

Hi:

Katoema was built for a circumnavigation to take a disabled person. The person had one leg and was 2.2m tall. His wife, still alive, is very small and had to do all the deck work. Although he died before being able to undertake such a voyage, he did spend most of his last years sailing all around the Biscay.

The interior of the centre cockpit ketch was designed to allow him to wear a wooden leg, but a wheel chair was not possible. The helm was designed so that it was easy to get around the cockpit and swing up onto the aft deck, which is quite open.

I have discussed the possibility of taking disable persons aboard now. The pros and cons of this, along with the legal ramifications, should something go wrong are enormous. I do not think that it is necessary to go into this too deeply, but suffice to say that it would be better that if the person who is disabled has one or more persons to accompany them. These persons should be familiar with the particular disability.

Katoema has been legally bequeathed to RYA Sailability, in the event that something happens to me. In essence she is an ocean going/blue water set up and since she was designed for a disabled person, based on a Suncoast 40, I felt that should it be appropriate to do such a thing, that it must be done legally.

I note that you are in The Canaries. She was due to be there for this years ARC, but due to the problems, mentioned on the web page below, she will be there for 2004.

I hope this helps you a little.

Martin

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema.html>http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema.html</A>

 

[ianwright]

As Prof Joad used to say "It depends what you mean,,,,,,,,".
First, not all users of wheelchairs are totally unable to walk. There are any number who, like me, find walking more than 30 yards or standing for very long, a bit of a problem. There are lots of people who are ‘hard of walking’ as my Granny used to say, who will have little trouble with sailing on a smallish boat. Some others who cannot walk at all have upper body strength that the average ‘fit’ person will be hard pushed to achieve. Remember that sailing is a pastime that is done, pretty much, sitting down. At least, if you are doing it right it is. Folk who live with disability generally have developed ‘work around’ systems. A slow solo sailor simply starts his preparations earlier than a full crew of fit youngsters do. When we do need to move about the boat hand holds are just as important as somewhere to place our feet. I often wonder when I see someone bent double handing in the anchor chain , why they don’t do it sitting down like I do. ,
When I take a wheel chair on board it is used for getting round ashore. By which I mean, lets be honest, getting from the boat to the bar. On a long cruise my biggest problem is rust.
By and large we are all disabled. A crew sailing to catch an early tide the morning after a start of cruise party are disabled indeed.

IanW


<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[SteveA]

I think a monohull would need to be designed from scratch to be wheelchair friendly.

My wife cannot stand but we are able to stay on the boat together - as long as it's in a marina.

We have an electric hoist which fits on the boom to lift her on board and a set of blocks to get her into the cabin - not ideal but workable. Our 36' boat is a heavy centre cockpit ketch which helps.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[roger]

How does a disabled person move about a boat? This is perhaps the right question. I doubt if the answer is a wheelchair. It would be possible to design a chairback on a track so the user could use arm power to get about the deck. This would take up less space on a boat and keep the users cg lower.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[alanporter]

Don't you have a chapter of the Disabled Sailing Association over there in the UK ?

It is part of a large international organisation which has it's own olympic sailing regattas, the Paralympics. My club, the Canadian Forces Sailing Association, hosts the local DSA, and it is a great delight to see these people enjoy their sailing as much as anyone else can.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

 

[TheBoatman]

Every year we (MYC) run the Medway Marathon and each year we have a number of competitors that are disabled. They sail Hawk 20's and because I am responsible for the safety on the event I simply make sure that they have good access to our pontoon for "getting aboard" and that there is a rib in close contact with them throughout the race. After that, I feel I need do no more as these people are some of the best sailors you could wish to meet. They have a love of their sport and refuse to give up, they have a fortitude that I can only dream about. Whilst they maybe disabled on land, they certainly are not when afloat and handle the boat as good as anyone else and because of that I for one encourge "sailability" for all I'm worth.
Sure some disabilities are worse than others, but when you see a blind helmsman working a boat, with the crew all working together, you can rest easy. I for one treat them exactly the same as a "normal" crewed boat.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

One of my colleagues at work has an artificial leg. He races with a competition crew, and wouldn't keep his place if he wasn't up to the job

He's bowman.

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[sailbadthesinner]

there is a disabled chap who sails a trimaran dinghy on a reservoir north of leek
it goes like absolute stink
he lowers himslef with no assistance into it from the pontoon
there is ofcourse a safety boat but he has never had a problem.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>