A grant of £500 has been awarded to Cowes Sailability Club to help it maintain and operate its accessible sailing boat ‘Iris’.
Cowes Sailability Club has received a grant of £500 from a trust fund administered by the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble, Hampshire. The money will help cover the annual running costs of Iris, a Drascombe longboat used to provide sailing experiences for people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties on the Isle of Wight.
Trish Rooke, Fund Raising Officer for Cowes Sailability Club says, “Iris is a really popular boat among our members and can accommodate a crew of up to seven people. She doesn’t have a boom to bump heads, which makes her ideal for people with slower reflexes, impaired sight and limited mobility. We are very thankful to the Royal Southern Yacht Club Trust for making such a significant contribution towards her annual running costs.”
The Royal Southern Yacht Club Trust was set up following a bequest by a member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, the late Sir Michael Cobham. “We provide grants to individuals and organisations with the aim of enabling and encouraging sailing activities for all,” says Trustee Brian Mead. “Cowes Sailability Club is a great example of an organisation that is working hard to make sailing accessible to people with disabilities, and we are delighted to be able to help fund Iris this year.”
Find out more about Iris and other boats owned and leased by Cowes Sailability Club