UKSA makes sailing more accessible for many Cowes-based charity and leading maritime training provider, UKSA, officially launched its partnership with the Even Keel Project this month. UKSA will partner with and provide the UK base for the project, and through its training facilities and highly-qualified instructors will be making sailing more accessible to hundreds of people with a physical disability.
The Even Keel Project aims to provide members with the sense of freedom and feeling of escapism that sailing can offer, going as far to offer free ‘try sailing’ opportunities at UKSA to anyone with an interest in taking up the sport.
The project is all about integration, enabling all members, whatever their disability, to compete at the same level and communicate with others from around the world.
The project’s ‘Try Sailing’ season starts on Thursday 15th April, and has been created for disabled groups and individuals who would like to try sailing in a performance keel boat. UKSA is currently talking bookings for Thursday, Friday and Saturday sessions, with promising individuals also having the chance to compete in the Artemis Even Keel Challenge at Cowes Week.
Simon Davies, Director of Youth Development at UKSA, commented:
We are absolutely delighted to be getting involved in and hosting this inspirational project. Sailing is one of only a few sports where having a physical disability does not have to be a disadvantage. We are delighted to have been able to offer hundreds of sailors access to the water at UKSA through our adaptive sailing programme and that this project will allow us to help hundreds more.
Throughout over 20 years as a provider of maritime training, UKSA has worked hard to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities. The sense of achievement instilled through training courses like the Even Keel programme makes a significant contribution to increasing confidence and self-esteem.
Another national initiative supported by UKSA, Toe in the Water, aims to rehabilitate and inspire men and women who have suffered traumatic injury, to move beyond their disability and to become re-inspired by life.
Sailing is a physically and mentally challenging adventurous sport and provides a unique opportunity for disabled men and women to sail and race on equal terms with their able-bodied contemporaries. In fact, a career in the maritime industry is within reach of all sailors, whether able bodied or not.
For further information visit www.uksa.org For further information on Toe in the Water visit www.toeinthewater.org. For further information on Even Keel visit www.theevenkeel.com
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