Caroline Wylson, President of Rye Harbour Sailability (RHS) welcomed everyone to the naming and blessing of the Wheelyboat ‘Rosalind’ on Saturday May 16 at the Rye Harbour Sailing Club. “Thank you for attending this very special occasion. It is great to see so many familiar faces, and new ones, gathered here to mark what is a very special chapter in our story.
“For those of you not familiar with our story, Rye Harbour Sailability was founded in 2016 with our first launch underway in August 2017 using a boat gifted to us by another Sailability group in Sussex and a very determined group of volunteers who believed the water should be open to all.
“Since then, we have built a small fleet: a dedicated safety boat and two dinghies. Both dinghies are specially adapted for stability to enable people with additional support needs to safely sail here at Rye Harbour.
“Today, we celebrate our fourth vessel: the Wheelyboat. The money to purchase it was raised by the sterling efforts of one talented volunteer in just six months. The Wheelyboat is a major milestone for us. It removes barriers, opening up the water to those with more complex mobility needs who might previously have stayed on the shore. You can see all four of our boats displayed outside today, the physical result of your generosity and the tireless work of our volunteers.
“A very grateful thanks to all the funding bodies whose vision and support have made this project possible: the local community for their generosity at our fund-raising events and, most importantly, a tribute to our RHS volunteers and members. You are the lifeblood of this charity, from the technical skill required on the water to the warm hospitality on the shore and every bit of hard work in between. You ensure our sailors are always safe and feel at home. We are all here to serve our members; you are the ones who turn this charity into a community, and this river into a place of freedom.
“Choosing a name for the Wheelyboat was easy. We chose the name ‘Rosalind’ after one of our most dedicated volunteers who sadly, due to an illness, passed on just over a year ago. Rosalind was an extraordinary person always putting others over her own needs. She was a pillar of strength for this charity and a dear personal friend to me. By naming this boat after her, we ensure her spirit of kindness and support continues to move through these waters. We will never forget her.”
Caroline then handed the baton over to Crispin Farrant, Rosalind’s husband.
“Rosalind used to sail in the 80’s at the club and we were partners for over 20 years and I know she would be honoured to know that the boat has been named after her. She was a remarkable woman and today is a very special day for me.”
Kerry Phillips, who was the first person to experience the boats specially adapted for those with disabilities, spoke next and explained that being on the water was such a wonderful experience for him. He felt safe and secure with the dedicated staff who manned the boat and the joy and the freedom was hard to explain but so fulfilling for him.
Members of the Wheelwrights’ Charity were also there; a Trustee of the Wheelwrights’ Charity and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights 2020-21 wrote:
“The Wheelwrights’ Charity is proud to have helped fund the Wheelyboat ‘Rosalind’ that will enable wheelchair users to easily and safely enjoy the thrill of being on the water. It’s also been a real privilege, on its naming and blessing day, to meet members of Rye Harbour Sailability who were behind this great initiative and to talk with some of the potential wheelchair users of ‘Rosalind’.”
“Those who attended on behalf of the Wheelwrights on May 16 along with me were my wife Marianne and Emir Feisal, one of our members. Another of our members, James Peace, who could not attend on the day, is a volunteer for Rye Harbour Sailability.
“Although we are a small charity, we have helped a wide range of charities all over the UK to improve access and mobility for disabled people. The link below to our website gives more details about the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights and its associated Charity https://wheelwrights.org/.”
Image Credits: Kt bruce .