Committee

Cowes Sailability Club is led by a group of trustees and managed by volunteers, who give up their time and expertise to organise events and ensure the smooth running of the club.

Meet our team!

Roger Sutton

Commodore and Trustee

Roger Sutton has held the position of Commodore at Cowes Sailability Club for three years and makes everyone feel welcomed and valued. A former RAF engineer, he built a successful career at a British electronics, defence and telecommunications company, where he specialised in air traffic control systems. He discovered a love of sailing while living in Malta and gains enormous pleasure from sharing his enthusiasm for boating with disabled people on the Isle of Wight.

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Trish Rooke

Fundraising Officer and Trustee

Trish Rooke has been volunteering at Cowes Sailability Club for over eleven years and has helped to raise thousands of pounds for the charity in her role as Fundraising Officer. A highly experienced sailor and former dinghy instructor, she is also a trustee of Cowes Sailability Club. Trish first introduced disabled people to sailing while working with children with additional needs at St. George’s Special School and now advocates sailing for disabled people of all ages.

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David Codd

Trustee

A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, Chartered Engineer David Codd is one of Cowes Sailability Club’s trustees and its trusted technical advisor. He specified and oversaw the recent purchase of the charity’s new safety boat, drawing on his extensive experience of building service boats, fast ferries and military vessels. Having previously undertaken major refits and repairs on RNLI lifeboats, he has a strong understanding of the necessary practical considerations for keeping people safe afloat.

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Paul Wilks

Trustee

A retired solicitor, Paul Wilks played a pivotal role in setting up Cowes Sailability Club as a registered charity. He is a longstanding trustee and has held a variety of roles ranging from fundraising to organising the annual Cowes Week event. As someone who has lived with epilepsy since the age of 21, he has incredible empathy for those who have long-term, life-changing health conditions and strongly advocates sailing to improve social inclusion.

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Janet Newton

Trustee

Janet Newton is Chair of Trustees for Cowes Sailability Club and enjoys helping out with everything from delivering training for volunteers to cooking the burgers at social events. Alongside this role, she also volunteers with another local charity that provides day services for adults with learning disabilities. A chartered surveyor, she previously worked in education and children’s services for many years and draws on her valuable experience during Cowes Sailability Club’s events for young people.

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Damien Ward

Vice Commodore

Sailing and water sports enthusiast Damien Ward has taken up the role of Vice Commodore for Cowes Sailability Club this year. He has previously helmed the charity’s sailing boats and will continue to play an active role in helping Islanders with disabilities and additional needs to take part in sailing activities on Monday afternoons. Recently retired, he had a successful career as a business change leader and is looking forward to an enjoyable sailing season.

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Christine Smyth

Rear Commodore

Rear Commodore Christine Smyth brings strong management expertise to Cowes Sailability Club, along with an infectious laugh and the ability to make even the most nervous first-timers feel welcome. In her career, she has managed a building society branch, a seaside hotel and a nursing home. Prior to joining Cowes Sailability Club, she and her husband supported a Sailability scheme in Poole, taking people with disabilities for day sailing excursions on their yacht.

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Chris Bull

Welfare Officer

Chris Bull has long experience of supporting disabled people, gained initially while working in physiotherapy at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. As a Welfare Officer at Cowes Sailability Club, she assists adults and children with a variety of disabilities, giving them the help and encouragement they need to participate fully in boating, sailing and social activities. She has been a volunteer at the charity for over seven years and has completed RYA welfare and safeguarding training.

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Carol Cunningham

Treasurer

A volunteer since 2020, Carol Cunningham keeps a close eye on all of Cowes Sailability Club’s donations, grants and operational expenses as the charity’s Treasurer. It is a role that she is perfectly suited to, as she has been a professional book-keeper for over 40 years. Prior to moving to the Isle of Wight, she volunteered for another disability charity, and she feels privileged to be able to support Cowes Sailability Club with its financial affairs.

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