In February 2024, Laurence made a significant life change, moving to the Isle of Wight with their partner and beautiful pup. Reflecting on this transition, he shares, “We’ve really, really enjoyed moving to the Island. The dog loves the garden and it’s great to be back by the water.”
Early Years and Sailing Beginning
From a young age, Laurence was drawn to the sea. “I started sailing when I was eight, for a charity in the South West, Plymouth Youth Sailing. They were brilliant,” he recalls fondly. This early exposure provided him with affordable access to various boats, fuelling his passion for sailing. “You paid, what was it, like, £2.50. They had a range of boats you could take out and just got to do loads of sailing that way,” he adds.
In his teenage years his journey took an unexpected turn when an incident where he was seriously injured by a propellor caused life altering injuries and resulted in the loss of his left leg. This incident led to a lengthy recovery period. However, his love for sailing was unwavering. “It was probably a good year and a year and a few months before I went back to sailing,” he says. With the support of local clubs and his resilient spirit, he returned to the water. “I found out I could do it without wearing my leg pretty easily. I mean, it’s still a challenge, but you could still get around boats,” an experience which we find is common at the Foundation
Sailing Achievements and Challenge
His sailing career saw him joining the Southwest Topper Zone Squad at around 12 years old. “I did that for a year. Really enjoyed it, but my goal was always to sort of go into double-handed, skiff stuff” he says. Despite some setbacks, including challenges with finding the right boat and crew, and learning to trapeze with only one effective leg he persisted. “A friend of mine had an RS 800… we ended up being really, really good in the boat,” he reminisces. Unfortunately that partnership fell apart when his friend went to university.
However, life’s financial constraints and other interests led him to take breaks from sailing. He dabbled in music, inspired by a musical family. “I’ve always been sort of musical. My dad’s quite musical. Whole family is really, in sort of various ways,” he explains. This period of his life was marked by exploration and a pursuit of various passions, including a period yachting in the Mediterranean.
Reconnecting with Sailing
A turning point came post-COVID when ACF Partnered with HK Physio (Holly King) with a new amputee mentor project. “she had been put in touch via Richard Nieveen (ProActive Prosthetics), my prosthetist, and asked if i would like to come and be a mentor to get other amputees out sailing.” he recounts. This opportunity reawakened his love for sailing. “It felt good to sail a boat I hadn’t sailed before in a place I’d never been to before and still have that sort of confidence of like, I could get this boat around here,” he expresses.
Involvement with the Foundation
Joining the Andrew Cassell Foundation brought a new dimension to his sailing experience. “The way The Foundation works is everyone is treated as an individual… at the end of the day, it is about sailing this boat and what matters is that we can sail this boat and sail it well,” he states emphatically. This inclusive approach, combined with a focus on competitive racing, resonated deeply with him. “It gives a reason for going out every day… it’s one big effort. Then you can come in to the club – and then you can relax,” he explains.
Future Aspirations
Currently, Laurence Is exploring employment in the maritime world, a prospect he finds thrilling. “I do a lot of teaching for the Foundation which I really, really enjoy… hopefully Matt agrees on getting better,” he says. His drive to improve is palpable, and he relishes the challenge. “Matt is interested in performance and nothing else. Right. That’s it and I really, really enjoy that. I really enjoy that sort of challenge,” he concludes.
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on his journey, Laurence acknowledges the profound impact the foundation has had on his life. “To be on the cusp of being employed to go out and teach sailing is… I mean, I never thought that would ever happen,” he admits. With unwavering support and a rekindled sense of purpose, he looks forward to a future where he can inspire others through his passion for sailing.
