Sussex-based charity, The Wheelyboat Trust, has supplied a fully accessible, wheelchair-friendly powerboat to Fife Sailability. The celebratory launch took place at Lochore Meadows Outdoor Education Centre on Saturday.
The new powerboat, a Coulam Wheelyboat V20, will allow the Scottish charity Fife Sailability to expand their activities at the Lochore Meadows sailing loch, enabling wheelchair users and people with any kind of impairment to participate in and enjoy the power and pleasure of boating.
Annabelle Ewing MSP (above) was guest of honour at the launch. She said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been invited to be guest of honour and participate in the naming ceremony for this new boat.
“Accessibility has been a very important part of the development of Lochore Meadows and this new boat brings that access-for-all ethos onto the water. Well done to everyone at the Wheelyboat Trust and Fife Sailability and I wish everyone involved many happy times aboard.”
Designed by Andrew Wolstenholme and developed by The Wheelyboat Trust and JM Coulam Boatbuilders, the Coulam Wheelyboat V20 is 20 feet long and 7½ feet wide. It has an open, spacious and level cockpit (90² ft), with roll-on, roll-off access via a watertight bow door that lowers to form a ramp.
Its drive-from-wheelchair console enables people with the severest of disabilities to drive the boat themselves. Also, seating for ambulant people is flexible and fixing points on the floor secure less-independent wheelchair users in place if required.
Formed in 2012, Fife Sailability is a membership club which also works with Special Educational Needs schools, homes and hospices, as well as disabled individuals and their families from across Fife, Perth and Kinross, The Lothians and Clackmanan.
They currently operate a fleet of specially adapted sailing boats for individual use, or with a qualified instructor, but they are operating at full capacity. The new Coulam Wheelyboat V20 has the capacity of ten adults including six wheelchair users, and will also offer every sailor a whole new set of boating experiences and skills to enjoy and learn as part of the nationwide accredited RYA Sailability programme.
Merrick Yates, Co-Founder and past Chairman of Fife Sailability says: “This Wheelyboat will change everything for participants in Fife.
“Our Sailability centre has never been busier and our new Wheelyboat will significantly enhance our capability of meeting the needs of the growing number of users who will benefit so much from access to the Scottish waters.
“Just imagine what it must be like for someone who is dependent on a wheelchair to be driving the Wheelyboat across the loch at 30mph!”
The Wheelyboat Trust is dedicated to providing mobility, learning and sensory impaired people of all ages with independent access to water-based activities such as nature watching, pleasure boating, powerboating and angling, via their uniquely designed wheelchair accessible Wheelyboats.
To date, the Wheelyboat Trust has supplied 195 accessible boats to lochs, lakes, rivers, canals and reservoirs all over the UK (with some Wheelyboats also located in Europe), and are the only known charity in Europe to do so.
Andy Beadsley, Director of The Wheelyboat Trust, says: “For the very first time, Fife Sailability will be able to offer its visitors powerboating tuition and qualifications, including the Royal Yachting Association’s new scheme to encourage disabled people into powerboating – RYA Powerability.
“This, and the fact that the Wheelyboat’s users will be able to drive themselves and participate as members of the crew, will provide a fantastic opportunity for learning as well as being a great confidence boost.”
Fundraising for the Coulam V20 Wheelyboat was a joint effort by Fife Sailability and The Wheelyboat Trust and it was generously funded by Disability Sport Scotland, The Robertson Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Barcapel Foundation and Tay Charitable Trust.
Fife Sailability’s V20 was supplied with Suzuki’s new 100hp outboard (the lightest in its class), which was specifically funded by Spifox. Without the support of these organisations, Fife Sailability getting the V20 would not have been possible.
The Wheelyboat Trust itself relies on the support of individuals, companies and charitable organisations to fund its activities. Donations can be made in a variety of ways including online at www.wheelyboats.org/donate.html.
To find out more about the Wheelyboat Trust, visit: www.wheelyboats.org
Pictures: Jim Donaldson
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