For the 2008 season Able2sail have, for the first time, formed a youth forum in which a buddying/mentoring system has been set up between able-bodied young people and young people affected by disability.
We are very lucky to be working with Y-sort it in Clydebank, who have provided meeting space for our monthly meetings and facilitated our training.
In our pre-season training all young people first get to know each other and then, with the help of the Y-sort it team, will begin training in areas such as first aid, collision regulations, rope work. They will also visit the marina and get to know the boat.
All young people will also be given training in working as a committee and will take turns to represent the youth forum at full able2sail committee meetings.
In addition to yacht sailing we have teamed up with our training partners at Clyde Murshiel and are able to offer training in dinghy sailing to all members of the youth forum team who are interested. This allows young people to participate in a different kind of sailing and can lead to RYA certificates.
Some of our youth forum members came out on half day sails with us last season on Pamina, the yacht that we chartered from Charter For You. They enjoyed the experience so much that they wanted to become part of the youth forum so that they could spend more time on the water and also pick up new skills both on the water and in our pre-sesaon training.
We have just taken delivery of our new Bavaria 46 - a brand new 48 foot yacht. She is currently being fitted out at Kip Marina where, amongst other things the electrics and safety are being installed. Other modificiations are also being put in place to ensure that she
is optimised for our needs.
Once the boat is the water we will start our on board training. Initially we will complete
day sails but plan to have at least one overnight trip during the season.