Cowes Sailability Club thanks the sponsors who are funding exciting boat trips for disabled people during Cowes Week
Children and adults with disabilities on the Isle of Wight have begun to count down the days until Cowes Week. During this world-renowned sailing regatta, Cowes Sailability Club organises five days of accessible boat trips, and for many people affected by disability, it is the highlight of the summer.
Cowes Sailability Club has been running its Cowes Week event for over ten years and families come back year after year to enjoy a special day out on the water, in which everyone can feel included.
One of last year’s participants was eight-year old Oliver, who was born with several significant and life-altering conditions. His mum Rochelle says: “Oliver loves the trips organised by Cowes Sailability Club and looks forward to them every year. He particularly enjoys taking a turn at steering the boat. Personally, I like the fact I can take Oliver, his sister and other family members on the Cowes Sailability Club trips, so we all have a great day out together. The children love the experience so much and the volunteers from Cowes Sailability Club are so understanding and helpful that the adults can relax too.”
Cowes Sailability Club will be providing its Cowes Week trips for disabled people free of charge, thanks to the generosity of its Cowes Week 2025 sponsors: the Isle of Wight High Sheriff’s Trust, Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding, Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, Dasie Rich Trust and WightAID. Weather permitting, Cowes Sailability Club aims to provide trips for up to 180 people during the five day event.
“We would like to say a HUGE thank you to our sponsors for funding these trips and making it possible for disabled people on the Isle of Wight to have exciting and life-enriching experiences during Cowes Week,” says Roger Sutton, Commodore of Cowes Sailability Club. “I know many people on the island really look forward to Cowes Sailability Club’s Cowes Week event, and I can’t wait to start welcoming back the families and groups who have enjoyed trips with us before, as well as meeting new people!”
The funding provided by the five sponsors enables Cowes Sailability Club to charter a motor catamaran that has been specially adapted to cater for people with disabilities and can accommodate up to ten passengers, including three wheelchair users, at any one time. The boat is owned and operated by the Wetwheels Solent CIC, which has supported Cowes Sailability Club’s Cowes Week event for many years and has kindly offered its services for a reduced fee this year.
All of the trips depart from East Cowes, where Cowes Sailability Club’s friendly team of volunteers welcome participants, fit lifejackets and get them ready for their boat trips. Cowes Sailability Club is very grateful to East Cowes Marina, which provides berthing for Wetwheels Solent and a large reception space in its carpark, entirely free of charge, throughout Cowes Sailability Club’s event.
The Cowes Week 2025 sponsors are:
The Isle of Wight High Sheriffs’ Trust was founded in 2000 and makes small, but vital, grants to benefit Island charities and community groups. This is the third year running that the trust has helped Cowes Sailability Club to make Cowes Week accessible to disabled island residents.
Headquartered in Falmouth, in South West England, Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding proudly creates some of the finest motor yachts and superyacht tenders in the world. It began as a small, family-run boatbuilding company and has grown to employ over 150 skilled professionals.
Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club has excellent facilities for sailors both on the water and ashore, and provides a base for Cowes Sailability Club’s activities. Its members raise money for Cowes Sailability Club through regular events throughout the year.
The Daisie Rich Trust is a charitable grant-giving organisation that has been supporting the Isle of Wight community since 1955. It is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of Island residents through its grants and donations programme, which covers a wide range of sectors.
WightAID is a foundation that distributes donations from the Isle of Wight community to ensure the future of local community groups and charities. It is proud to support a wide range of charitable projects that benefit island people and places, including Cowes Sailability Club.