ACF Friday Club (Amputee Group Welcome) got off to a fantastic, unexpected start today thanks to the amazing volunteers and weather.

Driven by one of our keen new volunteer team members Jim Mitchell and supported well by is friends in the Isle of Wight Amputee support group, we planned a bacon roll and brew morning catch up at the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.

We put this on with the target/hope of inspiring 1-2 individuals in the group to come sailing in the future and to encourage more to come and just speed time with us socially.

To do this we just created a friendly welcoming environment and also placed a boat in the water for people to see inside and possibly have a sit in it.

We had 5 new ish amputees visit (all island residence) who were so friendly, settled quickly into the environment on a lovely sunny day at the club.

As it came to getting in the boat, 1 individual become nervous but had a great attitude saying if we were going sailing then nothing would stop him and he’d get in now, otherwise he’d wait to come back another time.

Flying into action, and quickly doing a further summery risk assessment we knew it was possible subject to a full risk assessment and knowing their previous experiences, relevant forms filled out and full safety brief. A quick ask around if anyone didn’t have the time and all were up for it.

Thanks to technology, they all got their phones out and started to fill out our electronic forms whilst the team finished setting up and completed a full risk assessment.

This sore 3 new amputees out sailing and a 4th in the RIB along with one of our new visually impaired volunteers.

Leaving Jim the 5th ashore but he’ll get out another day and was official photographer for the day but will be back on the water soon.

We will let the feedback tell you how it went below: -

-              Jim, M8, thank you so much, I had a great day and so did the others, they are so inspired,
Let’s chat later about how we can progress with ACF.

-              That was great, never done it before… & they let me steer…. Coffee, tea & bacon rolls, then the bar was open when we go back for a couple of shandies. Thanks to Andy, Sue, Sue & anybody that came to help, Andy, Laurence and Jon & I got to meet Laurence’s dog. Thanks, Jim, for getting us sorted, again top day.

-              That was a great day sailing thoroughly enjoyed it but next time I’ll leave me leg at home!

-              It was sooooo good, I’m definitely going again, it was brilliant! Best day I’ve had for such a long time, those who bother missed out on so much.

-              Was absolutely brilliant day tea coffee bacon roll and suntan to boot the people who took us out where absolutely brilliant and patient never thought I’d be able to do that again but hey Jim was right I was relieved to get in the boat, but it is amazing what you can do on your arse lol

 

From all of us from ACF, thank you for making such an inspiring day and for your kind comments, plus to our volunteer team for just being the best we could ask for!

 

 Check out this link for more photos and videos or our Insta or FB pages - https://acfsailing.teamapp.com…

Location

Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, 39 Birmingham Rd, Cowes PO31 7BH, UK