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 sailing clean across the Atlantic.
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.
Think you’ve seen Scotland? We believe you haven't fully experienced it unless you have seen it from the water silently slicing along between the islands and below the mountains.
The Hebrides 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 closely designed for mobilty needs as possible, whilst still being a standard sailing boat makes this the ideal venue.
Oban, Kerrera, Mull and Tobermory are places of legendary beauty and exemplify the best of the wild west coast of Scotland. With Oban as our base we can explore in any direction (except East!).
The role of a crew member 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 approaching 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, who are supporting you to run the boat.
There are roles for everyone, for any ability, additional needs or confidence level.
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 2 trips! On this trip we anchor often to allow easier movement around the boat, time to go below for the toilet and spend nights in marinas where life for mobility aid users is a bit simpler. Just beacuse it is titled as our mobilty edition, it 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 to maintain consistant roles over time. Those with sensory impairments would probably prefer this.
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 breakfast 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.
3.5 days adventure and 3 Nights accommodation
Meet Oban train station 27 August 2022 4pm
Depart Oban train station 30 August 2022 5pm
£809 per person in a shared cabin
£100 private cabin supplement
Book the whole boat £3238 (based on 4 people sharing, and supported by 2 specialist skippers)
Accommodation in a shared cabin
All meals from Saturday evening to Tuesday lunch
All technical equipment
British qualified sailing instructors
Travel light - we provide all you need
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
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 the boat
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.
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.
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.
The cockpit is a U shaped design so with bum shuffling and/or using the rail the various steering and crewing positions can be reached.
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 furniture that double as support for all in case of rough seas.
A seperate portable toilet is carried with portable folding support arms - this can be set up in the main cabin for day use of the toilet if the onboard toilets are too inaccessible (with appropriate privacy arrangements)
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.
Just pop some details down and we will make contact, answer any questions and sort out the money.