Simple Solutions For many able-bodied and disabled sailors, a standard ex-factory boat is perfectly adequate. But sooner or later, almost everyone chooses to personalise a boat in some way. Few boat owners are enthusiastic about making unnecessary modifications. So if you are new to sailing or still experimenting to find the best solutions, make only temporary adaptations.

• A basic 'starter kit' for any boat could include a camping mat, a plank of wood, some short lengths of rope and a roll of duct tape. With these items, it is possible to provide:
• A padded, non-slip seat
• Padding around sharp objects in the cockpit
• An additional thwart to assist transfer from side to side during manoeuvres (Fig. 17).
• Extra loops of rope to grip and maintain stability in the boat
• Extensions to sheets.

Only when confident of the value of a solution should you make permanent adaptations ... and then probably only if the boat is yours or the owner is amenable!

Good Seamanship

• Minimise obstructions to movement about the boat. Consistent location of items is vital for visually impaired sailors.
• Check equipment carefully. A breakage is irritating for everyone, but it can present real problems for the less agile.
• Lubricate where appropriate to reduce the power needed to operate devices.
• Tape off anything likely to snag lines, particularly if out of easy reach.
• Align jam cleats to facilitate release by a single hand. Check that fairleads are slightly lower than the jaws to facilitate easy jamming off.

Seating

Seating adaptations are most likely to be useful to sailors with reduced trunk stability or limited use of the legs. Adaptations may vary from simple padding to specialised swinging seats.

Cushions are important (see Chapter 5 - Access to Boats).

Additional thwarts can be fitted by taping, tying or clamping a plank of wood across the boat (Fig. 16).

Plastic chair seats provide extra trunk support. However, the seat (and the seat back) must be firmly secured to the boat. A strap to hold the sailor into the seat provides additional trunk support (Fig. 18).

Many swivelling seats have been designed and produced world-wide. Such seats need secure installation and should be used with caution in other than light conditions because the sailor must often be strapped in. Nevertheless, mobile seats can offer access to sailing for very disabled crew (Fig. 17).

The Curtis seat is designed so that the helmsman can move from side to side in front of the tiller. It is covered in foam and sealed with vinyl fabric. There is some back support (Fig. 20).

Surfaces One sailor may value a non-slip surface for added stability (this could be achieved with camping mat, rubber backed carpet or even a non-slip bath mat) but another may prefer a highly polished surface for ease of movement about the boat.

Keep within the Class Rules If sailors intend to race a boat, it is important to check that modifications will not rule it out of class. A sailor with paralysed legs put a false floor into his Miracle dinghy. The boat was accepted at 'friendly' club level, but not elsewhere.

Tiller Modifications Sailors with disabilities (particularly of the lower limbs) have a lot to do with their hands (including simply holding on). They are less agile moving across the boat. It is important that the helmsman is not hindered during manoeuvres by any awkwardness with the tiller. It may be enough to modify the seating, (see p. 23).

Lengthen, shorten or hinge the tiller in relation to the sitting position of the helmsman (Fig. 21).

Add a ring (a child's rubber quoit, wheelchair castor tyre etc.) to the tiller end to provide an easy grip for sailors with weak hands or hand prostheses (Fig. 16).

Tension the tiller to introduce resistance to its movement, particularly if the helmsman has to let go during a manoeuvre. This can be arranged with elasticised shock cord or something similar (Fig. 22).

Fix the tiller in a chosen position, to free hands for rope work etc. This is important if a sailor can effectively use only one hand. Many designs are being developed (see Chapter 12 - Useful Contacts).

Sheet End Modification

Simple modifications to the end of a sheet can be a great help for sailors who lack fine motor control or strength in the fingers. A visually impaired sailor may value similar modifications so that she/he can identify different lines by touch (Figs. 23 - 25).

Modifications to Running Rigging The following items are standard on many boats, and many are of particular benefit to sailors with disabilities:

Lines led back to the cockpit are important if all the crew remain in the cockpit of a boat designed for sitting out.

Quality blocks with roller bearings reduce friction.

Increased ratios decrease the effort of pulling in lines (Fig. 26).

Cascade rigging for the boom vang increases purchase without increasing the length of line to be pulled in (Fig. 27). Consider terminating the vang line at the boom so that it can be pulled downwards using body weight.

A mainsheet operated from the boom is easier than one operated from the floor for many disabled sailors (Fig. 28).

Course and fine control of mainsheet tension enables a sailor with weak hands to haul in the mainsheet with the course control and then to tension the sheet with the fine control.

A protest flag stored in a photographic film container can be attached to the rigging for quick release.