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ALL AT SEA NOVEMBER 2020
Atlantic Challenge Natasha is a young lady who has quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, so everyday life is always full of challenges. Natasha never lets this get her down and is always positive and looking for ways to enjoy her life and live it to its fullest. This latest sailing challenge, though, is Natasha’s most ambitious to date. using her sip-puff technique, sailing by breath. There is also an integrated communication system that she can use to operate the chartplotters, route planning software and so on. The work on the 46ft cat also included adaptations to accommodate Natasha being able to live aboard for four weeks by, for example, the fitting of a ceiling mounted hoist track throughout the owner’s cabin, saloon and cockpit area.
CHANGE OF PLAN
Natasha and her family, including dad Gary who designed a system to enable Natasha to sail
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ATASHA’S previous half a dozen sailing projects have all laid the foundations for the current endeavour, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). The earlier adventures have provided many and varied challenges, from crossing the Channel and negotiating busy shipping lanes to dealing with swells off Land’s End, the changing weather off the East coast of
Ireland and the logistics of moving a crew around the country. However, they have all set Natasha in good stead for this next step, an Atlantic Crossing. The last two years have seen Natasha’s dad, Gary, working extensively on creating a robust system to allow Natasha to control and sail a Nautitech Open 46 catamaran called Blown Away. The unique system allows Natasha full control of the helm, traveller and sheets,
This year, during the worldwide pandemic, there have been many new hurdles to face. Work on the boat was halted in March until the end of May. With all the uncertainty of what the future held, not knowing when and if plans could go ahead, it has been a very difficult year in many ways. In spite of this, on 1 August, Natasha and the crew set sail from Cowes en route to The Canary Islands. It was a passage of 2,000 miles, during which Natasha and her crew encountered various sailing conditions from fog in The English Channel to thunderstorms in The Bay of Biscay. There were also 30 knot winds off Cape Finisterre, pods of dolphins in The Straights of Gibraltar, various unlit fishing boats and Atlantic swells. Allowing all the systems on board to be tested included an unexpected bonus of Natasha’s treadmill (fitted to help Natasha keep fit and exercise during the passage) doubling up to allow Natasha to helm from a standing position in the cockpit. Due to the many Covid restrictions it was not possible to undertake a crew change in Portugal as hoped
and instead they sailed to Gibraltar to ensure compliance with regulations. On 29 August, Natasha and the crew on board Blown Away arrived safely in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, where the boat is currently berthed ahead of the planned departure for St Lucia at the end of November. The boat was cleaned down and the crew flew back to UK, whilst the family enjoyed a couple of days relaxing before heading home. The team are flying back to Gran Canaria early this month to rejoin Blown Away and do the final
preparations for the ARC, which departs on 22 November.
SUPPORTING CHARITIES
Natasha is passionate about her charity, the MissIsle School of Sip Puff Sailing, which encourages other disabled individuals to broaden their horizons, as well as helping and working with two other charities, The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the RNLI. Natasha is using this expedition as a platform to help raise vital funds for these charities. Follow Natasha’s adventure this winter on social media. The aim is to raise £30,000 to share equally between the three charities. Visit Natasha’s website, www.missisle.com, and click on the Virgin Money giving link. The ARC is a ‘must do’ for many sailors, and attracts more than 200 boats and 1,200 people every year to sail 2,700nm across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. www.worldcruising.com
“The unique system allows Natasha full control of the helm, traveller and sheets, using her sip-puff technique, sailing by breath.”
This is just the latest in a number of challenges Natasha has taken on for charity
Natasha’s cat, Blown Away, has been modified in readiness for Natasha to take on the ARC
Natasha uses a sip-puff technique, sailing by breath
Natasha’s treadmill also allows her to helm in a standing position
