Want to come Sailing, Canoeing, Kayaking or Rowing?
OK, How do I get on the water?
There are different ways we can enable individuals to go on the water, please look through the following options.
Please be aware that sailing, canoeing and rowing are weather dependent and we reserve the right to cancel at any time if we consider the conditions are unsuitable.
Sailability and Paddleability Sessions
Saturday Sessions
Covid-19 Update
Please contact [email protected] before attending
Powerboat Trips are currently limited to one hour in order to cope with demand during the new restrictions. We will have trips at 10am and at 11am.
Sailing remains a two hour session.
These sessions are open to anyone with any form of disability or additional support need, as well as their friends, family and carers. We find the activities are particularly enjoyable if you come along with a friend or two!
Sessions are £6 per participant (concessions available), carers go free, anyone else – feel free to make a donation!
For those who want to sail, but are nervous of sailing on their own, we can offer an instructor or experienced sailor to accompany them. We use the access dinghies (left of picture) for independent sailing and have dinghies which are fitted with electric hand controls for those who have little strength or mobility in their upper limbs.
If you want to sail as part of a group we also have the drascombe lugger (right of picture), which is a traditional wooden sailing boat and gives an opportunity to sail up the harbour past the SS Great Britain.
The pioneer safety boats are on hand, but our accessible powerboats will be used to take people on trips around the harbour. Our powerboats are wheelchair accessible so there is no necessity to transfer from your wheelchair. There may only be 1 trip per session, so please arrive by 10.15 am to ensure your space on the boat.
Canoeing and/or Kayaking will be available when we have volunteer support, for those of you that wish to try some paddlesports! We have open Canadian Canoes, Sit-on-top kayaks, sit-inside kayaks (two with stabilisers), KataKanus and a Bell Boat available for use. The Bellboat can take up to 10 people so if you have friends who want to come down and use it let us know!
Please download the Sailability Registration form
Bring it with you for the first time, so that we know if there are any specific requirements or concerns you might have. Please be aware that if there are large numbers attending this may shorten the amount of time you are able to sail as we will give everyone time on the water.
Please see our useful video on ‘What to expect’ or see HERE for some accessible, printable information 🙂
“I feel free on the water”
“It’s really nice to do something as a family”
“Very empowering and a good opportunity to meet new people”
Dates for 2021
Sailability – Sailing, Powerboat Trips
*Please contact: [email protected] to book a place
April – 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
May – 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
June – 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
July – 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
August – 7th, 14th, 28th (7th August cancelled)
21st August – Hansa Regatta (no Sailability)
September – 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
October – 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th *2nd October cancelled due to weather*
*Please note, dates are subject to change due to Harbour events.
Paddleability
*Please contact: [email protected] to book a place
April – 10th, 17th
May – 15th, 29th
June – 12th, 26th
July – 10th, 24th
August – 7th,
September – 18th
Winter Sailability – Powerability
November – TBC
December – TBC
Junior Sailability
These sessions are on Tuesday evenings during term time from 4.00pm to 6.00pm from after Easter to October. It is for any junior sailor who wishes to sail in a more supported environment. This session is very suitable for young sailors who are on the Autistic Spectrum or have Learning Difficulties, as the session is run by experienced volunteers and the session is calmer than the Saturday session. Typically, this session involves with the youths sailing or having a powerboat trip up the river.
The Sailing boats are accessible. We have an array of boats which means the youth can learn to sail a boat as a group or on their own. We have hoists to support them in and out of the boat if needed. Our wheelchair accessible powerboats will accompany the sailors up them river.
Please download the Participants Details – Sailability form
Send it into us or bring it with you on your first session. The session costs just £6 (carer’s go free). There is no need to book, just turn up. We meet by the flag pole beside our centre, near the waterside steps.
Dates 2021
*Please contact: [email protected] to book a place
April – 20th, 27th
May – 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
June – 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
July – 6th, 13th, 20th
August – NONE
September – 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
October – 5th, 12th, 19th
*Please note, dates are subject to change due to Harbour events.