Sailing on the Lean

The world of disabled sailors is now getting more and more open with sharing their struggles. It is still difficult to find support for the cruising sailor that wants to do something more than tool around the harbor. There is not much information out there for persons wanting to do long term sailing and needing to modify their boats to do so.

I think pride got in my was mostly. Believing that my challenges were weakness of mind was not helpful. It made it hard to connect at first. I joined a whats app group from a popular YouTube channel and found an amazing group of people to talk sailing with. As I slowly started to share my struggles I found a few more sailors that have come up against the same issues.

I have found one friend in particular that has similar physical issues, although not entirely the same, and we have developed a really close relationship over time. Sydney has MS and has weakness and fatigue. She is a 2x cancer survivor and was also a runner in her past life. I believe she has a strong determination and positive attitude to obtain any goal she should put her mind to. She is a fantastic role model for anyone looking to overcome struggles.

Sydney lives on her monohull with her husband, Sam and until recently their twin boys. Their twin boys just bought their own sailboat] and are documenting the life of young people working to make a classic boat come back to life. They can be found at SV BeBop on socials.

Sam and Sydney have just sailed their boat up the east coast of the USA. This included a couple of overnight ocean passages with Sydney being full crew for the first time. She was able to crew without issue. They have made several modifications to their boat in order to make it safe and enjoyable for both of them.

The majority of sailors I have asked about different aspects of sailing with a disability, suggest getting a catamaran. Catamarans are not for me. I dislike the way they move in the water. So I consider that a last ditch solution. Trying to get help with the simple modifications and big modifications is difficult when people just jump to the catamaran solution

As with any boat ownership you start looking at things you want to improve and how you want to do that. “On my next boat I would like” then add on several $$$. Adding to that the needed upgrades to make your current boat workable. Electric winches would be fantastic, but I cant afford them so battery powered winch handles, Magill is hard of hearing and “Marriage Savers” for the win. If you never have heard of Marriage Savers they are a communication tool that works off bluetooth. Each person wears a headset and then you can talk in normal voices and there is no miscommunication. We went from screaming and cursing during anchoring and docking to working as a team. Getting a stack pack for the mainsail was another win. I didn’t need to stand on the deck, with the boom swinging back and forth to get sail ties on. Sail comes down and gets directed into the bag, zipped in and all is done.

The stack pack is a great example of how I had lost the ability to help with managing the main sail and through modifying I was able to help with that chore. I would go forward and be knocked about with falling over or swinging on the boom while trying to fasten sail ties. I don’t walk the side deck but either crawled on scoot on my butt. With the modifications to the boat and the way I approached the task I am able to go up and in light to moderate seas help take down the main sail. In more boisterous conditions I continue to send hubby forward.

My sailing life has changed from trying to be able to do it all myself to adapting to the new reality.