Greenwich Sailability Volunteer Promotes New Accessible Catamaran Experience Thanks To Powerchair

Dec. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Away from her volunteering at the AHOY, Sarah fulfills the position of Access Officer at the world famous Sadler’s Wells Dance theatre in Islington.  She also had the honour last year of being the first person on London's streets to carry the Olympic torch. Sarah believes her successful career could not have been possible without her ‘Balder’ powerchair and is being currently assessed for a new, state-of-the-art Etac E880. Sarah has SMA, which is a neuromuscular condition that results in difficulties walking, standing and general mobility. The F280 powerchair she owns provides reliable, comfortable and safe powered assistance on a daily basis and is compatible with travel in an accessible vehicle.

Sarah’s sailing charity is a recognised RYA teaching establishment opened in 2004 by the Sailability patron, HRH Princess Anne. Located in Deptford, by the river Thames, the AHOY provides access to sailing, rowing and power boating for a wide variety of social groups. These range from local schools, disadvantaged young people, ex-offenders through to able-bodied and disabled sailors.  Disabled individuals are able to enjoy the experience of being on the water, irrespective of ability, thanks to the centre’s varying range of accessible facilities and specialist boats.  The AHOY as a result of recent funding, now have two exciting programmes to enjoy sailing or trips on the river Thames in their fully accessible catamaran powerboat ‘The AHOYFreedom’. Both programmes, titled “The London Maritime Experience”, are available at a subsidised cost of £10 per person and are available to disabled individuals who would like to enjoy time on the Thames. These one day experiences also include either a visit to the Maritime Museum or a fun and informative Thames History session at the AHOY Centre.

The AHOY owns a number of boats that are adapted to enable disabled users to sail or row, however the 40ft Freedom power catamaran is quite unique. She was commissioned specifically for the charity with pioneering technology so that a disabled crew could steer and skipper her. Freedom has an accessible toilet on board, wheelchair ramps and can be controlled via a joystick for people with limited upper body movement. Sarah has been able to helm the Freedom from her Etac powerchair as she explains: “The first time I went onto the water in my powerchair was such an amazing feeling. The Freedom is a remarkable piece of marine engineering and I was really proud to take the helm. Here at AHOY we are now promoting the London Maritime Experience days for people with a vast range of disabilities. We are lucky enough to be located in such a breath taking part of London and I would encourage everyone of all abilities to come and take advantage of what AHOY Freedom can offer.”

Sarah continues: “I never thought as a Londoner living so centrally that I would ever be able to sail, especially with my disability. The AHOY has made such a difference to my life as has my Etac powerchair. Without this superb chair, I would never have been able to achieve so much in the last 10 years whether working at Sadler’s Wells or volunteering at my local sailing charity. I can easily travel independently to the AHOY and accessing the boatyard is no problem. As my parents are both from coastal towns, it is great to relive my childhood that I spent sailing offshore near Salcombe and Great Yarmouth. As my SMA has now progressed, it is only thanks to the fantastic facilities at the AHOY and a specially adapted Martin 16 dinghy, that I can still go out independently on the water. I control the boat via a joystick and also adjust the sheets so I can tack and manoeuvre easily which never fails to give me an unmatched sense of independence. My dinghy has a very deep keel so capsizing is near on impossible and AHOY has excellent hoisting facilities to lift me out of my powerchair and into the boat. I plan to fully promote Freedom to as many relevant parties as possible and look forward to seeing many happy faces on board, out on the water.”

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Notes to the Editor: Etac (http://www.etacuk.com)          Etac has been a world-leading Scandinavian healthcare specialist for over three decades. Its high level of personalised care and support is renowned worldwide. With its UK division based in Hook, Hampshire, Etac designs, manufactures and supplies high quality assistive devices which improve the daily lives of tens of thousands of people worldwide.

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