SCOTTISH WETWHEELS

to bring our Wetwheels experience north of the border to allow people with disabilities to enjoy these unparalled sailing opportunities.

HRH The Princess Royal took to the water at Port Edgar Marina to launch Wetwheels Edinburgh, a specially adapted powerboat giving disabled people access to the water.

The first Scottish Wetwheels, it joins the other vessels in operation including Portsmouth, Southampton, Falmouth, Dover, Jersey and Whitby. The boat will be operating across the east coast of Scotland, perfectly positioned to access Edinburgh and numerous other ports and harbours on the banks of the Firth of Forth, such as Dundee, St Andrews and Anstruther.

It will offer trips and experiences from Port Edgar such as viewing the UNESCO registered Forth Rail Bridge, seeing seals and puffins on the local islands or seeing the Naval Dockyard of Rosyth where the new aircraft carriers were constructed.

Geoff Holt, who founded Wetwheels in 2011 and in 2007 became the first disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Britain, said: “Scotland is home to some of the finest sailing waters in the world, and we have worked very hard

“Our own research tells us more than 80 per cent of Wetwheels’ participants have never previously been on the open water. By removing perceived barriers and allowing people with many obstacles in their lives to experience the mental and physical benefits that the sea can provide, we aim to give people a sense of newfound independence, and hopefully a new hobby to enjoy.

“As a keen sailor, HRH The Princess Royal truly understands the benefits to be gained for everyone from being afloat on the water, including those people with disabilities.”

In further news, Maritime UK Solent got on board with their 2022/23 charity partner, Wetwheels, to give disabled people from local care homes the opportunity to enjoy life on the ocean waves.

MD of Maritime UK Solent Stuart Baker saw the charity in action when he joined residents for a spin around the Solent on a Wetwheels’ fully accessible powerboat. Geoff Holt chatted with guests from Brookvale Healthcare’s Mary Rose Manor and St Vincent Care, Southsea.

Geoff said: “It was a great pleasure to welcome our guests onboard Wetwheels Solent. It has been a pleasure being the Maritime UK Solent charity partner over the past year and we are grateful for their support.”