A conference for all who go cruising has been organised with all profits going to help disabled people to go sailing.
The Cruising Association and the Woolverstone Project, which works to offer sailing for disabled people, have got together to organise the one-day event - We Do Mean To Go To Sea - on March 11 at the Royal Hospital School near Ipswich.
The conference will offer attendees a chance to explore a diverse range of cruising destinations, hear entertaining speakers and come away with new skills. Until 10 February there’s a discount on the ticket price, £35 for a single and £60 for two (normally at £45 for a single or £80 for two).
Well-known sailors including Paul Heiney and Dave Selby will offer talks and there will be a series of 45-minute workshops on cruising information and skills, boat preparation and maintenance, how to organise affairs back home for long term absence and information on a range of popular destinations - all presented by people with first-hand experience.
Details of the talk subjects and speakers are available on this document.
Book your place early – and save
Tickets are available through the conference website on www.cruisingconference.co.uk.
Paul Heiney, patron of the Woolverstone Project, said: ‘We are delighted to have the support of the CA in organising this conference for such a worthy cause. You don’t have to cross oceans to reap the rewards (of sailing). For many of the people the Project helps, getting themselves by their own efforts and skills from one side of a reservoir to the other, is achievement enough.
‘I have seen people return from such trips, and even though they might not be able to speak the words to express it, the look of triumph on their faces says it for them.’
The Woolverstone Project provides sailing opportunities and tuition for those with disabilities with sailing throughout the year at a local reservoir and during the summer months at Woolverstone on the River Orwell in Suffolk. They have been helping disabled people for more than 20 years and this is all done with the enthusiastic support of over 60 volunteers. There is a fleet of 22 boats - all adapted so that they can be sailed by anyone, whatever their disability. In 2016, 417 sailing sessions involving 1350 sailors with 1055 carers were run, with the support of 406 volunteers.
Contact:
Trustee – Woolverstone Project
c/o Spital Acre
The Street, Salcott
Essex
CM9 8HW
web@woolverstoneproject.org.uk phone +44 (0)7540 635749