WETA's for disabled people

Please select your home edition

Edition

WETA's for disabled people

by Mike Wood on 10 Dec 2016

Best performanc with crew to ballance the boat Mike Wood

While the Paralympic world ponders the technicalities of disabled people you may be interested to know that disabled people in the UK have been sailing and racing them for over 10 years.

The UK's Disabled Sailors Association (DSA) has a small fleet of Wetas and either provides dinghy sailing free of charge to disabled people or loans boats to people who promise to use them on a regular basis.

Rod steering is very positive © Mike Wood

Rod steering is very positive © Mike Wood

It is very easy indeed to adapt the Weta and the DSA provides modifications which allow any disability to sail them, single handed or with one or two crew. The most popular 'mod' is fitting a racing seat on the centre line allowing severely disabled people to enjoy this versatile craft.

Two Wetas are kept on the Mar Menor in Southern Spain which allows all year round sailing and racing and inexpensive holidays.

Spanish National Team members try a Weta in 2011 © Mike Wood

Spanish National Team members try a Weta in 2011 © Mike Wood

Very comfortable © Mike Wood

Very comfortable © Mike Wood

Wetas will sail with and rig combination © Mike Wood

Wetas will sail with and rig combination © Mike Wood

Easy access to seat © Mike Wood

Easy access to seat © Mike Wood

If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.yachtsandyachting.com/150331

Related Articles

Growing Female Participation in Sailing
Success Stories in the Flying Fifteen fleet It's been an incredible summer of sailing in the UK, and one of the highlights for me has been talking with competitors at major events, learning how they started sailing, what they love most about the sport, and their visions for the future.
Posted on 16 Sep

Zhik launches new season range
Advancing its Made For Water ethos with athlete-driven products and strengthened partnerships Zhik unveils its new season line-up, advancing the brand's expansion into paddle and rowing while reinforcing its long-standing leadership in dinghy and yachting.
Posted on 16 Sep

The Famous Project CIC
A crew of seven female sailors to circumnavigate the globe Today, Mediterranean sailor Alexia Barrier presented the six female sailors selected to accompany her this fall in an attempt to break the crewed, round the world, unassisted, and non-stop sailing record, the infamous Jules Verne Trophy.
Posted on 16 Sep

Craftinsure K6 Nationals at Stone
A strong wind event on the Blackwater Estuary Ten K6s entered the 2025 Nationals at Stone SC sailing on the Blackwater Estuary. The forecast was for strong wind over the three days, lighter on the last day, the prelude of an advancing storm late on Sunday.
Posted on 16 Sep

Salcombe Gin Centenary Race & RORC Clubhouse Party
A celebration to conclude the racing programme in the Solent As part of the RORC centenary, alongside the headline events the Rolex Fastnet Race and the revived Admiral's Cup, the Centenary Race has been designed as a celebration to conclude the racing programme in the Solent.
Posted on 16 Sep

Noble Marine RS800 Nationals at Eastbourne
An eager fleet despite a slightly less than terrific forecast Despite a slightly less than terrific forecast, an eager fleet arrived at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club looking forward to some full send sailing, waves galore and the always brilliant and welcoming members of Eastbourne.
Posted on 16 Sep

Clipper Race heads for Punta del Este
Teams face marathon 5,300 nautical mile race with first ocean crossing The ten teams racing in the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race have departed Puerto Sherry, Spain, bound for the second stop of the circumnavigation; Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Posted on 16 Sep

Noble Marine Albacore Nationals 2025
Recipe for Success at the WPNSA Before we get into our report I wanted to share a simple recipe that seems to have worked for the Albacore Class! Event entries were up by 20% over 2025.
Posted on 16 Sep

20 Questions with the reigning champion
Ahead of the P&B Phantom Nationals 2025 The 2025 P&B Phantom Nationals start this Friday at Hooe Point SC in Plymouth. For the first time the class is utilising on the water umpiring with two international judges afloat all three days.
Posted on 16 Sep

Seafly Open at Blakeney
A superb weekend for the fleet on the north Norfolk coast At this time of year I am reminded of Stanley Holloway's famous monologue, "Albert and the Lion" which tells of a family visit to Blackpool seaside in which Albert is swallowed whole by a lion in the zoo... I'm sure some of you will recall it.
Posted on 16 Sep