Assistive Equipment

For sailors who need help controlling the sails: Windlass to sheet in and out the sails. The mainsheet and jibsheet are connected to a winch type system, that acts as a multiplier, increasing the strength of the sailor. With a light touch of a button, the sails can be sheeted in or out.

For sailors who need help steering because of reduced strength of the arms and hands: An Autohelm is fitted to the boat. The Autohelm has a small joystick, like a video game control, that can be used to steer the boat with very little effort; it acts as a multiplier increasing the strength of the sailor.

Integrating the windlass and the autohelm together: The module to integrate is operated with a joystick; with a light touch of the fingers left or right the sailor steers, and with a light touch up or down the sailor trims the sails on or out.

For sailors who do not have the use of the arms and hands: The boat can be even further adapted: the windlass and autohelm system can be controlled with the sailors breath using a module called “sip 'n puff”. By inhaling or exhaling gently into a straw, the sailor can move the rudder left or right, and with a second straw let the sails out or winch them in. In this way high-level quadriplegics – with no movement below the neck – can independently sail the boat. The level of freedom, independence and control experienced by these sailors is exhilarating, challenging and life-changing.