You can go out there on the water, and you can forget all about your disability, all your cares go behind you.
After my first outing, I was hooked and that was it
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Meet Marcia
I was an athlete, in fact, I was a high jumper and then I ended up as a long-distance runner, which is quite a leap from one to the other.
However, when I ended up injured and in a wheelchair, I needed something to replace it, and one day I met Judy Figures who was the founder of Grafham Water Sailability.
Judy was great and she encouraged me to come and try sailing, and after my first outing on the Challenger I was hooked, and that was it.
Sailing is a great sport, it really is, there’s always a boat out there somewhere that will suit you, no matter what your disability.
I kept looking at this boat, the Drascombe and thinking there must be a way of being able to sit in it. The seating in there is non-existent, and there is no support for anybody with a spinal injury, and then I came across a fantastic seat, and it was actually on a pair of canoes that had been hooked together.
It was a disabled person that was using it, so I found out the details, and mentioned it to the people at the club here, and Calvin did the magic in fitting it to the Drascombe, and altering some of the bits and pieces on the boat, so that I was able to get out on the water again, which was fantastic!
We couldn’t do it without our helpers. Calvin has been my mainstay on the Drascombe, but all the helpers here, we couldn’t go sailing without them.
It’s great because you can go out there on the water, and you can forget all about your disability. All your cares go behind you.
With over 200 Sailability venues, there is somewhere on the water near you. Finding the best fit for your values, needs and budget is key to your enjoymebnt.
Before your first visit, find out what support you can expect, plan what you need to bring and think about the support you will need
Everyone's different, so contact us if you have questions or want to find out more about how boating can be made to work for you
Looking for the next challenge - the only limit is your imagination. There is a world of opportunity to develop your skills, build confidence and nurture your passion.
A level playing field. Everyone can go sailing. Rule the waves with activities for young people, adults and groups at your pace, adapted to your abilities
Sailing is open to everyone. Regardless of age or ability, it’s a level playing field out on the water and the opportunities to get involved are ever evolving. Find out about some of the boats involved