Sailing Opportunities for Dorset, Wilts and Hants
Thursday 18th July 2024
with New Forest Sailability
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are delighted to be back again for one of our favourite events – sailing at the Spinnaker Sailing Club with New Forest Sailability who are waiting to welcome us on Thursday 18th July at 1.30pm.

Spinnaker Sailing Club is situated in Ringwood.  The full address is: Blashford Lake, Ivy Lane, Ringwood, BH24 3LY

They have a variety of boats for you to experience the joy, the fun, the exhilaration of sailing, starting off with the Hansa two seater 303 and even feature a servo assisted, electrically controlled Hansa 2.3.  If you have limited mobility or hand strength or function this can be an incredibly empowering and liberating experience.

Sailability say “One of our sailors, Keith Harris, sails using just his tongue and says “on the water, everyone is equal.”

These boats were designed specifically to meet the needs of disabled sailors.  With their heavily weighted keels and inbuild buoyancy, they are very stable.  Seated low, and facing forwards, movement within the boat is NOT required.  The only controls needed for sailing are a joystick, with left/right movement for steering, and a rope, pulled or released to control the sails.  You will be able to start sailing these boats immediately, accompanied by an experienced sailor cum instructor from the Club.  But very soon you can easily sail them on your own.

So, complete novices and never-evers are more than welcome! And for more experienced sailors there are other boats also available.

The wheelchair accessible clubhouse has large picture windows overlooking the lake towards the New Forest. There is ample free parking. The facilities include ladies and gents changing rooms with accessible toilets and showers. There is a machine for coffee and tea, but no food, so please bring your own lunch if needed.

There is wheelchair access to all parts of the Clubhouse and onto the pontoon. Also a hoist available (if needed), for easier access to the boats.

Life Jackets are of course provided, but we suggest that you bring a towel and perhaps a change of clothes – you might get wet!

Don’t worry if you haven’t tried sailing before, there will be plenty of hands-on advice, guidance and instruction.

You don’t need special clothing, anything that is comfortable is OK. Tracksuits are ideal, but any casual trouser, jeans, tee-shirts and sweatshirts or fleeces are fine. It will always feel cooler on the water, so it is a good idea to bring an extra layer. As mentioned before a change of clothes is also not a bad idea – just in case…..

So just to recap on those details:

Thursday 18th July 2024, at Spinnaker Sailing Club.
1.30pm meet and greet; 2.00 pm start; finish around 4 pm

For the full address and directions, plus other details please click onto their website New Forest Sailability

We’d love to see you there, so if you want to join us then please contact Valerie via email us at info@sportability.org.uk

Best Wishes,

The Sportability Team

Please note: Sportability wishes to point out that the events and activities are operated by established Service Providers. For the purpose of clarification, it should be understood that all participants in the sporting events and activities referred to on our website, in our newsletters or in any written or verbal communication, will be deemed to be clients of the Service Provider, and must adhere to that Service Provider’s Terms and Conditions, instructions and operating procedures.