Yes you did read that right. We are going abseiling...down the Spinnaker Tower

For all those who know me, you know that heights are not my thing at all but I'm doing it for a cause very dear to my heart and I am now joined by Michael, one of the DSA's incredibly dedicated volunteer mates.

We hope to raise as much as we can towards the construction of the DSA's new ocean going, fully accessible catamaran which will result in a further 1000 sailing places a year.

A fully accessible boat means anyone, and I do mean anyone, can sail. The DSA's current catamaran can be sailed single handed by a wheelchair user.

We have seen disabled sailors and non sailors alike spend the day on the water and come back exhilarated, to have spent a day doing something they never thought possible. We have spoken to many who have gained enormous physical and mental health benefits. The impact of getting out on the water is immense.

Mary's story - Without going into details that wouldn't fit in this box, the DSA has mage a huge impact upon my life. As a disabled sailor I cannot fully describe the immense difference between sailing on a fully accessible yacht compared to a traditional yacht. The DSA has encouraged me to take on challenges I never thought I would or could, and to gain qualifications in sailing that have boosted my confidence again to a level that I didn't think was possible. The difference to my mental health has been visible not only to myself but to those around me.

In a nutshell this is why the construction of the new catamaran is so important to us.

Here is some more information about the DSA and the new boat.

The Disabled Sailors Association exists to make sailing accessible to all disabled people — not just the lucky few. From beginners to seasoned sailors, the DSA gives people the chance to experience the thrill of sailing in a safe, empowering, and fully accessible way.

Right now, the charity is fundraising for a brand-new, state-of-the-art, wheelchair-accessible catamaran that will launch in summer 2026. This incredible boat will be ocean-capable and designed so that any disabled person, no matter their condition, can take part in sailing adventures — even multi-day trips.

The DSA has already raised £1 million towards the £1.8 million cost, and we are now working hard to raise the final £800,000. Every donation brings us closer to putting this life-changing boat in the water. Thank you for your support!

You can visit the DSA website at https://disabledsailing.org/

I will be continuing to update this page with some more photos and some videos as the day gets nearer so do keep popping back to take a look, and please share my page with your friends, family, colleagues, in fact share it with everyone!

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