In the bustling seaside town of Cowes, where sailing is as intrinsic to the culture as the salty sea air, a vibrant disability sailing community thrives at the Andrew Cassell Foundation. Among the volunteers helping get the happy if sometimes dysfunctional family of disabled sailors, supporters and volunteers on the water is Louise. She is a volunteer of more than 4 years whose story embodies the transformative power of sailing generally and disability sailing in particular. Her journey with the Foundation began with a happy encounter over a meal in 2021 and has since evolved into a remarkable tale of growth, learning, and passion.
Setting Sail
Louise’s introduction to the Foundation was as unexpected as it was fortuitous. It all started over dinner at a friend’s house in Cowes. “I was at Sally’s place; she runs the Duke of York pub…. We were having dinner, and Matt was there with one of the Foundation’s sailors,” Louise recalls. At the time, Louise had just wrapped up an intense period of volunteering for the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic and was searching for a new way to contribute to her community.
Despite having no sailing experience, Louise was drawn to the Foundation’s mission. “I said, I can’t sail at all. I’ve never been sailing, but what I can do is volunteer and support,” she shares. With Matt’s encouragement, Louise quickly became involved, braving a freezing December weekend to begin her volunteering journey.
Growing into the Role
Louise’s initial role was that of a supportive presence, helping in any way she could while learning the ropes—literally. “At first, I was just kind of in the background, pushing wheelchairs, guiding people, taking bags to the shed,” she explains. However, as she familiarised herself with the boats and the processes, her role began to expand. Louise started learning to rig the boats, often taught by visually impaired participants, an experience that left her in awe. “I was amazed that they could do it without seeing, and they taught me!”
Her background with Spinlock, a company known for its safety gear and a proud supporter of ACF Sailing, quickly became an asset. Louise was tasked with explaining and maintaining life jackets, a responsibility she took to heart. This marked the beginning of her transition from a background supporter to a more confident leader within the Foundation.
The Patience of the Sea
Through her involvement with the Foundation, Louise has gained valuable life skills, particularly patience and the ability to listen. “I’ve learned patience to know that it’s okay to wait for someone to do something themselves,” she reflects. This newfound patience has not only enriched her volunteering but also positively impacted her professional life as an associate aerospace engineer. “At work, dealing with different personalities, I’ve learned to be more understanding and respectful.”
A Lifelong Connection
Sailing has become more than just a volunteer activity for Louise; it has become a vital release and passion. “Thursday night sailing is my escape. Nothing beats a sunny evening race around the Solent,” she enthuses. The skills and experiences she has gained on the water seamlessly blend with her engineering background, providing a unique perspective on the physical forces at play in both sailing and her professional field. She reflected that “in engineering I have learned if it sounds if it doesn’t sound nice, it’s probably not nice. so when things, like pinging and, bouncing around in the boat I’m constantly looking around and kind of,.wondering what’s going on at the level of the physics of the boat” Louise confesses that she also think about the keel a lot, especially ‘how much stress must be on that keel at certain points So when you know, when it when you think about kind of how much stress and pressure must be on that keel and what it does for the boats as well’
A Diverse and Inclusive Crew
The Foundation’s inclusive approach to disabilities has deeply resonated with Louise. “We welcome people with a vast range of disabilities, from visual impairments to amputations to autism,” she explains. The Foundation’s ethos that everyone, regardless of their disability, can participate and excel in sailing is something Louise finds particularly special. “Disabilities don’t have to be split into categories. We’ve discovered at the Foundation that people with different disabilities can complement each other and mesh together to product high performing sailing crews.” Louise reflected how different this is to disability sport organisations which support particular conditions, or required athletes with Paralympic classifications, or are for specific groups like ex service-people.
Despite the range of disabilities among participants, Louise reflects that they are not at a disadvantage. “We follow the ACF process, and everyone is committed to racing hard. We often perform well, sometimes even outperforming crews that have sailed together for years,” Its, perhaps a reflection on the value that disabled participants put on their time with the Foundation that crews work so hard.
A Lasting Impact
The Foundation’s success lies in its ability to engage participants deeply, creating a sense of family and belonging. “We’re essentially one big dysfunctional family with a door always open to new people,” says Louise. Many participants remain involved for years, drawn by the empowering and inclusive environment the Foundation fosters.
As Louise’s journey illustrates, the Foundation is more than just a sailing organisation. It is a community that transforms lives, fosters personal growth, and proves that the spirit of sailing transcends all barriers.
