The island-built RIB is named Scarlett in a ceremony led by the Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson OBE
Cowes Sailability Club has taken delivery of its new safety boat, which it was able to purchase following a successful fundraising appeal. The vessel will help to ensure the safety of disabled people and volunteers when they are taking part in Cowes Sailability Club’s weekly sailing activities.
The rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was named Scarlett by the double gold-winning Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson OBE, in a ceremony on Saturday 21st June. Shirley attended the event and met volunteers and members of Cowes Sailability Club in her role as Deputy Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight.
“I was really impressed by everyone at Cowes Sailability Club,” says Shirley. “Their passion for sailing was infectious, and the camaraderie between the disabled members of the club and volunteers is impossible to miss. Safety cover when anyone is learning to sail is vital, however able you are, but for this group of sailors with a really diverse range of needs, a reliable, well-thought-out craft really is game changing.”
Shirley was delighted to be able to deputise for Susie Sheldon, Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, at the naming ceremony. Congratulating everyone on the fundraising achievement, she says: “Well done to all involved in Cowes Sailability Club. Scarlett is a big investment in the charity’s future.”
Many grant-awarding bodies, organisations and individuals contributed to the fundraising appeal, enabling Cowes Sailability Club to acquire the new safety boat in time for the 2025 sailing season. The charity received a particularly large grant of £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, thanks to players of the National Lottery.
Further significant donations were gratefully received from NPT Transatlantic, the Derrill Allatt Foundation, the Bernard Sunley Foundation, the Laing Family Trust, Jane and Christopher Sawer, Carisbrooke Shipping and Spithead Lodge Seaview, as well as many other local organisations and individual supporters. A special thank you is reserved for Jeanie Pelling, who raised over £1,600 with a sponsored cycle ride from the island of Anglesey to the Isle of Wight.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us to achieve our fundraising goals and purchase Scarlett,” says Roger Sutton, Commodore of Cowes Sailability Club. “Having a new, high-spec safety boat will help us to provide accessible, water-based activities for disabled island residents, for many, many years to come.”
The new safety boat was built on the Isle of Wight by Island RIBs Limited, a local company with an excellent reputation for RIB design and manufacture. It is 6.8 metres in length and includes a Suzuki outboard engine, a fixed VHF radio with antenna and navigational equipment. Island RIBs will provide training, servicing and maintenance throughout the lifetime of the new safety boat.
“We are delighted that Cowes Sailability Club chose us to build its new safety boat and excited to see Scarlett start her work,” says Jo Burke, Director of Island Ribs. “It has been an honour to be involved in this project, and our team looks forward to supporting Scarlett for years to come.”
Boat insurance for Scarlett, for the first year, has been provided free-of-charge by Pantaenius UK, a boat insurance provider that specialises in leisure yacht and motorboat insurance. “When asked to provide a quote for the boat, we realised what a great charity the club is and decided that this gesture would, in some small way, allow the club to do more of the great things it does!” says Simon Hedley, Head of Commercial Partnerships at Pantaenius.
