About Project Swan
Weʼre raising £8, 000 to help BHYC fund the design and build of a specially modified Bembridge Swan dinghy for blind people, making sailing more accessible for all.
Project Swan Description
Weʼre raising £8, 000 to help BHYC fund the design and build of a specially modified Bembridge Swan dinghy for blind people, making sailing more accessible for all.
This ambitious but totally achievable project involves designing and building a specially modified Bembridge Swan. The Bembridge Swan is an incredibly stable one design dinghy for up to 4 crew. Moulds have been made available to the club (BHYC) and the boat will be designed and built with support from volunteers with boat building skills and support from local marine businesses including Cheetah Marine who have very generously donated materials for the hull production.
The Swan will be specially modified with features to help the sailors feel in touch with the boat, on a safe learning platform. These modifications will include bright, contrasting coloured ropes, labelling in braille, and other important features being made accessible with various touch stimuli. With these modifications, the Swan would also be suitable for members with a large range of other disabilities.
The project is endorsed by Lucy Hodges MBE from GBR Blind Sailing who has met with our working group and has offered to act as an advisory body. A number of our working team are also volunteering with her group to gain experience and first-hand knowledge of working with blind sailors and understanding their requirements.
We sincerely believe that ‘Project Swan’ will change the lives of many people Club – please support us in making sailing more accessible for all at Brading Haven Yacht Club.
Reviews
https://www.facebook.com/RYASailability/p osts/2069376973087660
Very inspirational match racing this weekend from our friends Blind Sailing UK
Great photos of the 2 legged Swan variety from Sienna Anderson!!
A little insight about our friends GBRBlind Sailing UK - we are so delighted that we have Lucy Hodges Mbe and her team advising us on the design and features of Project Swan. Thank you to all the generous donations so far, we still have a long way to go so any further donations or support would be very welcome.
Bonding side tanks of the last swan built!
Highlighting ability, not disability, this documentary tells the remarkable story of four individuals who share a unique bond—each is vision impaired and striving to race in Japan’s 2013 Blind Sailing World Championship while navigating all the other challenges in life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQCcZy2yJ pg
Project Swan team Duncan Bates & Will Morris at the London Boat Show with Lucy Hodges Mbe from Blind Sailing UK. We are very grateful to Lucy & her team who are acting in an advisory role for Project Swan.
Delighted to announce that our lovely friends Southern Co-op have made a very generous donation of £350 via their Making a Difference, love your neighborhood initiative THANK YOU!! http://www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/
A huge thank you to Cheetah Marine Catamarans who are very kindly donating the materials for the hull production, we are so very grateful thank you!! http://www.cheetahmarine.co.uk/en/