WETA's for disabled people

Please select your home edition

Edition

WETA's for disabled people

by Mike Wood on 10 Dec 2016

Best performanc with crew to ballance the boat Mike Wood

While the Paralympic world ponders the technicalities of disabled people you may be interested to know that disabled people in the UK have been sailing and racing them for over 10 years.

The UK's Disabled Sailors Association (DSA) has a small fleet of Wetas and either provides dinghy sailing free of charge to disabled people or loans boats to people who promise to use them on a regular basis.

Rod steering is very positive © Mike Wood

Rod steering is very positive © Mike Wood

It is very easy indeed to adapt the Weta and the DSA provides modifications which allow any disability to sail them, single handed or with one or two crew. The most popular 'mod' is fitting a racing seat on the centre line allowing severely disabled people to enjoy this versatile craft.

Two Wetas are kept on the Mar Menor in Southern Spain which allows all year round sailing and racing and inexpensive holidays.

Spanish National Team members try a Weta in 2011 © Mike Wood

Spanish National Team members try a Weta in 2011 © Mike Wood

Very comfortable © Mike Wood

Very comfortable © Mike Wood

Wetas will sail with and rig combination © Mike Wood

Wetas will sail with and rig combination © Mike Wood

Easy access to seat © Mike Wood

Easy access to seat © Mike Wood

If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.yachtsandyachting.com/150331

Related Articles

44Cup Baiona Day 2
Switzerland's day in the sun History was made on the 44Cup today when, for the first time, a team representing land-locked Switzerland was top scoring boat of the day.
Posted today at 6:30 pm

IOM Nationals at Poole
74 IOM sailors travelled from many UK clubs, plus visitors from foreign parts 74 IOM sailors travelled from many UK clubs, plus visitors from foreign parts including France, The Netherlands and Fleetwood.
Posted today at 6:23 pm

49er & 49er FX Europeans & Nacra 17 Worlds Day 4
Uruguay surges to the top of the 49ers Uruguay has never qualified a 49er to the Olympic Games. In fact across the whole history of the modern Olympics the South American nation has just won 10 medals, none yet in sailing.
Posted today at 6:13 pm

Wayfarer Nationals at Paignton Preview
A highly anticipated event promising to bring together some of the best sailors The 2024 Wayfarer Nationals - sponsored by Craftinsure, Allen Brothers, Hartley Boats and McNamara Sails - will be held at Paignton Sailing Club over the 13-16th June.
Posted today at 4:23 pm

Littlehampton kids' sailing centre crowdfunds
To raise the last £10,000 needed to replace their crumbling 40-year-old tractor A kids' sailing centre based on the seafront at Littlehampton has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help keep them afloat.
Posted today at 3:30 pm

Miracle Northerns at Delph
The joys of Miracle sailing and drifting! With a forecast of minimal/zero wind on the Sunday, Race Officer Graham Clow made a change to the Sailing Instructions, moving the third race of the planned five race series from the Sunday to the Saturday.
Posted today at 1:27 pm

Ambrogio Beccaria wins The Transat CIC in Class40
Crossing the line of the historic race at 03:47:55 hrs this morning Italy's Ambrogio Beccaria on his all Italian designed and built Musa 40 Alla Grande Pirelli added the hugely prestigious Transat CIC Class 40 title to his steadily growing collection of solo and short handed ocean racing honours this morning.
Posted today at 8:19 am

Is this the slipperiest AC75 boat in the fleet?
There's plenty to suggest American Magic's 'Patriot' is the most refined aerodynamic package so far There's plenty to suggest that American Magic's AC75 'Patriot' is the most refined aerodynamic package so far and if that's the case the team's new machine could be the lowest drag Cup boat out there.
Posted today at 5:11 am

Cherub Inlands at Grafham Water
A&E's first outing in her new water-hugging form With some of the fleet busy strapping planks to their feet to fall down a mountain and others in sunnier climes seemingly spending a lot of their time swimming away from the nearest bar, some hardy souls arrived at Grafham Water Sailing Club.
Posted today at 5:05 am

Marina Portoroz Melges 24 Regatta preview
Melges 24 European Sailing Series event to set sail on Friday It's that time of the year again when Portoroz beckons the international Melges 24 fleet as the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2024 makes its next stop in this picturesque Slovenian coastal town.
Posted on 9 May