Adaptive Sailing lessons.

[David993s]

Hello. New to the forum. Here's the Reader's Digest version of my story and my plans:

My (abbreviated) STORY:

I'm a retired corporate exec. and due to a bad racing accident a number of years ago while racing my Formula Ford in an SCCA race at Mid-Ohio
Sports Car Course I'm now a bilateral above knee amputee. Today I walk well on prosthetic legs.

Sailing has held an attraction for me since a teenager. Early in my career I moved to Cleveland then Chicago and wanted to learn to sail (Lake Erie & Lake Michigan), but I could only afford one expensive hobby at a time and racing was the priority. Racing has stayed the priority even to the present (yes, I still race even as an amputee with hand controls). I have finally decided it's now or never to learn to sail. There's a nice size lake about 20 miles from our current home in Indiana. Always lots of power boats and fairly good-sized sailboats on it in the summer.

Here's the PLAN:

I've found several sailing schools that provide lessons to disabled individuals including amputees, paraplegics, and other disabilities with the use of various adaptive equipment. These schools utilize small day sailing keelboats and provide one-on-one instruction (as opposed to a regular school that has 6-8 students and one instructor). I've had one traditional sailing school instructor tell me I couldn't learn to sail due to my disability........I told him people have underestimated my ability and determination in the past. I'm certain I can learn the basics from one of these adaptive sailing schools. I've also found there is a lot of equipment for a "regular" sailboat (electric wenches, furling masts/booms, etc.) that will allow someone with mobility issues to handle much of the tasks from the cockpit. It at least gives me hope that if I find the experience enjoyable and is something I want to continue to pursue, a decent size "first" sailboat (22-25-ish ft.) isn't out of the question. I know it will be a challenge, but I've overcome greater challenges.

It will late Spring or early summer 2022 before I can go, and I'll keep you posted about the experience.

QUESTIONS:

Are there any disabled sailors on the board? If so, can you please give me some advice, recommendations, warnings, stories, etc.? Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with any of the disabled sailing schools? If someone has any questions for me, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm not self-conscious about my injuries or disability.

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to learning much from this forum.
Cheers.

Dave

[s/v Moondancer]

I recently spent 10 days teaching a young paraplegic man with a T2 transection to sail my Corsair F28. We spent 10 days sailing Biscayne Bay. I have asked him to contact you.

I spent much of my medical career taking care of disabled children and while not minimizing your injuries I do not think that they are much of a hindrance to learning to sail.

Best wishes Phil Kellett MD

[Macblaze]

I know in Canada they have a great Disabled sailing associations (Alberta's: https://dsaalberta.org/) so maybe a group like that could point you in the right direction. My brother races Hobie cats and Martin16 and he's paraplegic so I don't think something as paltry as missing a few feet of legs should stop you Personally I think the hobie cat thing is a tad insane but ...

If you are into Youtube this fellow lost two legs below the knee and is cruising with his partner: https://www.youtube.com/c/AllAboutSpray It's not mostly about him and the videos are not the best production quality but you might find tidbits. She also wrote an article about him: https://www.pacificyachting.com/finding-freedom/

Next time someone tells you can't learn to sail just stick your tongue out at him. It's all the response he deserves.

[SailRN]

PM sent.

[LittleWing77]

It would be useful to know where you are, Dave (perhaps update your profile)? You indicated a Chicago move "early in my career", but are you still there?

For example, I do know of a totally cool sailing club based in the Potomac in Washington, DC (majority veteran participants); one of their main instructors is an amputee just like you.

Oh, and what MacBlaze said about that nay-saying jerk +1 But of course, you've already figured that out!

LittleWing77

[boatman61]

Worked for an RYA residential school back in '01/2.. the students lived aboard a converted ferry moored up an estuary.
We had all sorts from groups of Downs Syndrome kids to groups of disabled kids spend a week at a time with us.
They got on well and really enjoyed the time with us learning to sail dinghies solo and two up.
There is only one restriction to your being able to sail competently and that is you.. one guy I knew, a double amputee used a bum pad to scoot around his boat and a self designed hoist to get in and out of the cabin.
The boat can be set up where everything can be operated from the cockpit very easily, your biggest challenge will be anchoring and berthing where you have to leave the cockpit on a small boat.. the side decks are often narrow with the stays making it an obstacle course, even for many able bodied folks but, nothing is unsurmountable and with a little thought, trial and error the boat can be made to fit you.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...voyage-britain

https://www.ablehere.com/latest-disa...-crossing.html

https://www.waff.com/2021/10/13/sail...g-solo-voyage/

You make your own dreams into reality...

[David993s]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

It would be useful to know where you are, Dave (perhaps update your profile)? You indicated a Chicago move "early in my career", but are you still there?

For example, I do know of a totally cool sailing club based in the Potomac in Washington, DC (majority veteran participants); one of their main instructors is an amputee just like you.

Oh, and what MacBlaze said about that nay-saying jerk +1 But of course, you've already figured that out!

LittleWing77

Thanks LW77, I should have made it clearer. I put it in my intro post, but nothing in my profile yet. I'm currently in Indiana. Fortunately, there's a very large lake about 20 miles from our home, so that's where I'd sail, once I learn.
Dave

[David993s]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Worked for an RYA residential school back in '01/2.. the students lived aboard a converted ferry moored up an estuary.
We had all sorts from groups of Downs Syndrome kids to groups of disabled kids spend a week at a time with us.
They got on well and really enjoyed the time with us learning to sail dinghies solo and two up.
There is only one restriction to your being able to sail competently and that is you.. one guy I knew, a double amputee used a bum pad to scoot around his boat and a self designed hoist to get in and out of the cabin.
The boat can be set up where everything can be operated from the cockpit very easily, your biggest challenge will be anchoring and berthing where you have to leave the cockpit on a small boat.. the side decks are often narrow with the stays making it an obstacle course, even for many able bodied folks but, nothing is unsurmountable and with a little thought, trial and error the boat can be made to fit you.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...voyage-britain

https://www.ablehere.com/latest-disa...-crossing.html

https://www.waff.com/2021/10/13/sail...g-solo-voyage/

You make your own dreams into reality...

Thanks for the links. I've identified 5 schools, so far. One in Toronto that may be the most experienced at this sort of thing. My issue is the restrictive requirements for entering Canada. Not sure I want to go along with those requirements. There's one in upstate NY, one in MD, one in St. Pete (perhaps prohibitively expensive) and one in Chicago. Chicago seems to be the most likely candidate as it's the closest. There's also a sailing school operating out of Cleveland and they are looking to start a program for disabled sailors. Not off the ground (water) yet, and I offered to be one of their first students.

I agree with you that mobility around the boat would be the biggest challenge. But I've found I can pretty much do whatever I've set my mind to and figure out a way to overcome the obstacles. People said I would never walk again.....I do. People said I would not return to work after my accident........I did. People said I would never get back in a racing car again........I have.

I don't believe wearing my prosthetic legs on a moving boat would be wise. Despite the progress that has been made with prosthetic lets, they still don't come close to matching the real thing. They are good for daily tasks, walking, sitting, etc. but I would be unstable walking around on an undulating boat. I wear what are called C-Legs (C for "computer"). They have microprocessors controlling knee phase, stance, etc. They would not react well to getting wet, and they are incredibly expensive. I don't want to take any chances with them. I think I would scoot around on my butt and would have to figure out a way to handle tasks. I'll cross that bridge once I've accomplished Step 1.

Thanks for the encouragement.

https://magazine.wvu.edu/stories/201...-not-his-drive

Dave

[carstenb]

I know one sailor who lost his right leg below the knee - he is now busy circumnavigating. He sails a catamaran, which you might think about as a boat since there is a bit more room everywhere.

[boatman61]

Positive thought and a willingness to work through pain go a long way to countering others predictions..
Enjoy the adventure..

[carlosproa]

Formula Ford is an expensive hobby, so in theory you have plenty of money to modify a sailboat that can be accessed by wheelchair and walked by prosthesis.
The founder of “Shake a Leg” here in Miami is a paraplegic who modified a large catamaran for this purpose. If your sailing needs extend to cruising then a catamaran is in your future as is a stable platform. There is no reason why you cannot have all accessibility in one level, it may just call for a basic hulls platform and build around it.
Since you like going fast, learning to sail in a trimaran might be your ticket as lean angles are quite predictable, and is quite fast. Everything else is a matter of repositioning controls, winches, blocks, etc to minimize the need to move around.
I am embarrassed that an instructor told you about not able to learn to sail. Compared to the technicalities of car racing, sailing is quite simple.

[David993s]

Originally Posted by carlosproa

Formula Ford is an expensive hobby, so in theory you have plenty of money ............

Not as expensive as Formula Atlantic or Formula Continental, that I raced prior to FF. Plenty of money in theory......in reality one starts racing with plenty of money and ends up with significantly less. LOL

"How do you make a small fortune racing? Start with a large fortune". Sailing must have similar quips.

Thanks for the info about "Shake a Leg". I'll google it to see what I can find. I have much to learn.

Dave

[David993s]

And a big Thank You to all who've replied. I appreciate it very much.
Please keep the advice, recommendations and information coming.

Dave

[requiem]

PM sent.

Would it be primarily you solo, or with crew to assist? Going solo may simply take a bit more planning, and some rearrangement of controls and grab rails. And, given how boats move, I rely on legs more for bracing and less for balance, so perhaps a set of "dumb" prosthetics might be of some use.

[dannc]

The "instructor" does not know what he is talking about, which I think you have figured out, so ignore that "advise."

The biggest problem seems to be docking but that should not be a show stopper. Other sailing evolutions should be manageable, well, they have to be, since there are sailors out there doing what you propose to do.

Later,
Dan