Boundaries are pushed together!
Coastal Sailors 24 Hour Sailing Race also for people with disabilities!
This year the wheelchair-accessible catamaran the Beatrix will sail in the Coastal Sailors 24 Hour Sail Race for the third time! Also this year the crew of the ship consists of people with and without disabilities. For example, people steer the ship from their wheelchairs and a sailor with a visual impairment acts as a helmsman. Using the special relief maps of the IJsselmeer, she can also help with navigation.
Boundaries are pushed together!
The Beatrix catamaran is one of SailWise’s vessels, which is celebrating its anniversary this year.
For 50 years this Enkhuizer foundation has been organizing active water sports vacations for people with disabilities. The motto of this lustrum is “You push boundaries together!” And that is exactly what we also aim for with our participation in this 24-hour race. “The adventurous enthusiasm and determination of the crew shows, that limitations set no limits to the passion for sailing,” says skipper Ton Vervest. “During our regular sailing trips, we do no different. People discover at SailWise that they can do much more than they think. No matter how light or heavy your disability is, we always find a way for you to participate 100%, ” says Ton.
Sailing with a disability
The Beatrix is a remarkable ship, fully adapted for people with disabilities. Among other things, the ship is equipped with a joystick for people with impaired hand function and a hydraulic platform so that people in wheelchairs can also steer the ship.
New genoa for the Beatrix
With its participation, SailWise wants to show how much is possible in water sports for people with disabilities. In addition, skipper Ton hopes that the crews of other ships participating in the 24-hour race will become enthusiastic to volunteer to join a SailWise water sports vacation next year. Because only with the help of some 300 volunteers a year can SailWise continue to organize the water sports trips. Want to know more about this? Go to https://sailwise.nl/nl/vrijwilligers And finally, the foundation desperately needs financial support. The Beatrix urgently needs a new genoa. Help out so the Beatrix can participate in the 24-hour race next year with a new headsail and go to https://sailwise.voorfondsgehandicaptensport.nl/project/doneer-voor-een-nieuwe-genua.