Thank you to all our Sailors, Volunteers and Supporters.

This year has been a different year for us at ACF but we are so proud of everyone around us, with both many highs and lows from building a great team and missing our own special person.

It reminds us of the types of people we look after, both as participating sailors but also volunteers and that we are a collective.

A collective of individuals who all have their own little challenges but together are stronger, happier and help each other to progress, creating opportunities that would not be their if we didn’t.

Many people never realised are the mental health challenges almost everyone in the world can put there hands up too, no matter how small or large, disabled or able. Our little collective this year have been seen supporting each others mental health without even always knowing the either person was struggling. This has made us so proud of every single individual who has sailed or supported us ashore.

For those supporters reading this, not on the ground, this all thanks to the environment we create, not the getting on the water or venue, irrelevant of where we are or come from, but the fact that we are together, that everyone is felt welcome, that there is no place for discrimination. Your basically brought into a friendship group whether you meant to or not, made part of the family with always time to stop for a chat with one of the team and always just a phone call away if ever needed.

Our goals next year is to share more of what we know, have learnt, along with creating more opportunities for both participants and volunteers to learn and progress. Also building our team and cheering on our sailors out there doing amazing things like sailing around the UK.

So if we ask one thing this year it to remember that everyone has their personal challenges whether they choose to share or not, whether they know it or not. And that for some it can be hard just because your supporting others like our ACF Family.

Keep your eye up for training dates going live over the next few weeks via our app, and updates to groups.

Special thanks this year to the RS Elite Class for making us their charity for their amazing international event held at the Royal Yacht Squadron. The late John Garlick for inspiring the Fairwinds Art Exhibition held at our sailing home, the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club which couldn’t have happened without the 9 top Island Artists and event supporter Spinlock, who put on an fantastic weekend (coming back in 2024). The late Elizabeth Wood, our great friend we lost this year who touched so many hearts that her family and friends alone have raised over £1,050 which is going towards a special fund and we look forward to telling you more about in the new year. Holly at HK Physio for partnering with us to host a bespoke day for amputees and the volunteers huge effort to make it happen. A final thank you as always to the CCYC membership for cheering us on to keep up the work we do supporting independent disabled and impaired individuals.

We look forward to seeing you in 2023 and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Your sincerely,

The ACF Sailing Team.