Scotland by Sail
Mobility edition 24-26 September 2021
See also Scotland Sailing Adventure trip
Sail a yacht
Yachts are fantastic. They provide a truly self-contained adventure machine . It is amazing to think as we cruise around the islands that it is only a change in steering direction that could have us sailng clean across the Atlantic. There is no safety fence or barrier to a yacht to prevent it from sailing anywhere in the world, barring land locked countries.
No need to be a Sailing guru
In fact there is no need to have sailed before. One of the great things is new crew are useful and part of the team minutes after stepping aboard.
Cruise through the amazing landscape
Think you’ve seen Scotland? We believe you haven't fully experienced it unless you have seen it from the water silently slicing along.
Scotland is a world class sailing venue
With over 100 islands and huge island populations, boats and sailing are part of Scotlands DNA. There is so much to explore and so many wonderful communities to visit.
Self-sufficiency - wonderful simplicity
Like all great adventures, living and travelling simply allows you to relax into the journey and enjoy the moment.
Great food
We love good food so our trips are always well catered. We work on a we buy and everyone mucks in principal.
Sail the Clyde
A yacht is a home, vehicle, and adventure.
A crew is a family, team and friendship.
The Clyde is a great sailing venue and chosen for our mobility needs edition becuse of the wonderful options it presents.
This coupled with a marvellous boat - as close to designed for mobilty needs as it is possible to be whilst being a standard sailing boat makes this the ideal venue.
The Clyde, Arran, Bute and the great Sea Lochs of Fyne and Long give an amazing venue for exploring, finding good berths and having regular stops. This is where our personal boat lives for exactly these reasons.
Roles for everyone
One of the great things about sailing is that every function needs many co-ordinated hands.
The role of a crewmember on a yacht is varied and challenging. One minute someone is needed to steer, while another changes the tension of a rope, while another watches the other boat, while another is making tea, while yet another is plotting our position on the chart. All this action is co-ordinated by the Skippers John or Chris, supporting people to run the boat.
There are roles for everyone, for any ability, additional needs or confidence level.
The mobilty edition
An itinerary which suits mobility needs but
everyone is welcome.
In some adventures the decisions you make favour one group more than others so to make a sailing trip work really well and meet our Anyone Can philosophy we made 3 trips! This trip we anchor often to allow easier movement around the boat, visits to the toilet and spend nights in marinas where life for mobility aid users is a bit simpler. Just beacuse it is the mobilty edition doesn't mean the trip is less suitable for your other needs. Some people will love the opportunituy to both sail and go for a walk every night or knowing that the the days won't be too tiring.
Our adventure sailing trip trip goes the other way, most of the action is on the boat itself and particularly suited to those who like a single environment or maintain consistant roles over time. Those with sensory impairments would probably prefer this.
Life on Board
What's it like?
Everyone wakes up at a reasonable hour - we will disucss each night, the plan for the next day.
First toilet run - those who need help getting off the boat and uniting with their mobility aids (and everyone else who wants it) work together to get off the boat.
One of the crew gets started in the galley cooking up breakfast and coffee/tea.
After breaksfast a second toilet run before briefing and deciding the days roles.
Next we cast off. The crew manoeuvres the boat out (with help!) raise the sails and we set off for our lunch destination.
For lunch we look for an anchorage, drop the hook or borrow a bouy and take the sails down. This steadies the boat and makes it easier to use the hoist or helping hands to get below and use the onboard facilities.
At night we utilise one of the many marinas allowing everyone to get off the boat to access the on land facilities.
Onboard faclities
Our chosen sailing boat has a few advantages for getting access to the toilet - firstly there are two so no rushing required. Secondly it is just beside the lowering point when you come down from above.
It is narrow and everything is strong on a sea toilet - it is designed for everyone to need support while in a rough sea. So while they don't come with the grab handles you see in an accessible toilet, the sink right there will help.
One of the nice things in these boats is the toilet is not fully opposite the toilet door and the door opens to the back so transfers can be made sideways rather than a 180° rotation.
Handily the sleeping spaces are right next to the toilets for the rear crew so they are relatively easy to shuffle to for night time needs.
Important note
Covid 19 has somewhat got in the way of writing this section - The images above are borrowed from a different boat of the same type rather than our actual boat (they come out of the factory the same)
Important Scotland by Sail Info
Dates and Costs
3 days adventure and 2 Nights accommodation
Pickup: Largs train station @ 12pm
Drop off: Largs train station @ 6pm
£678 per person in a shared cabin
Book the whole boat £2370
What is included?
Accommodation in a shared cabin
All meals from Monday evening to Friday breakfast
All technical equipment
British qualified sailing instructors
Transport from and to the train stations
Travel light - we provide all you need
What do we actually do
Sail the Scottish Coast
Teach you to manage the boat
Dock, Undock, Use the radio, Start the engine, Get the sails up, Anchor, Walk the plank (not really)
Go for a pint, have a laugh and relax.
Visit remote islands, anchorages and moorings
Feel the boat lift and rush on the breezes
Understand the charts, make a passage plan and use the navigation equipment
Sail Scotland (mobilty edition)
Vision
Suitable for all people able to manage own travel to the pickup point
Suitable for all those who do not need a dedicated guide or can bring their own
We are well staffed for this trip, a lot of help is available for support both on and off travel time
The boat is a great option for visually impaired people to explore without having to constantly relearn the accomodation layout
Great sailing is as much about the other senses than sight - you can feel, hear and sense the boats reactions to make adjustments to sail well.
Cognition
Consider also the ambulant edition. There are certain advantages to the other trip - less stopping and starting, more time sleeping on anchor and moorings. Great for supporting attention spans and creating a consistant experience
Suitable for those able to self manage without dedicated support or with a dedicated carer
Fantastic way to integrate into a team with jobs for all cognitive ability levels
We will help with meals, reminding about medications etc
Participants should be capable of understanding and able to follow rules consistantly - most sailing safety comes from some core rules. If not please bring a dedicated helper.
Mobility
This is not a purpose built mobility access yacht - systems and equipment are adapted.
To facilitate transfers a degree of self weight bearing is required - if you can access a car seat without a hoist or minimal assistance, happy to bum shuffle around a bit - that's the right kind of level for the boat.
The trip is ideal for walking aid users.
Access to the lower levels, and between cockpit deck areas is done either manually or by hoist from the overhead boom.
Access to the dock is either by stepped access through back gate or hoist over the side.
For comfort and convenience we will plan to spend each night at a marina with suitable toilets. To make using the toilets on the boat easier we will plan a sails down anchorage each lunch time.
Onboard toilets are situated at the bottom of the lowering point from on deck. There are no grab handles but the walls are narrow to allow bracing and sail boats are built with incredibly strong sinks that double as support for all in case of rough seas.
Auditory
Suitable for people with most auditory impairments that do not require signing to communicate or please bring an interpreter.
A BSL assistant instructor is occasionally available.
We have radios and Tloop transmission units to aid hearing when seperated or the winds hinder hearing.
Booking is easy and straight forward
Just pop some details down and we will make contact, answer any questions and sort out the money.
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