I have seen sailing boats modified for disabled people. Has anyone seen a windsurfer? I imagine it would require stabilizer pontoons and an uphaul frame rather than rope. Part time, I build wheelchair ramps and install occupational therapy equipment. I get to meet some people whose lives could do with a thrill we all take for granted. Anyone seen anything like this?
The Windsurfing Movie has a segment of a wheelchair bound fellow getting a ride on two windsurfers in Hawaii. He really enjoyed it as it was so exciting. If you can manage to do organise rides for people who use wheelchairs then do it.
I have seen that guy in Maui - it's like a small catamaran- but it's being sailed with a windsurfer rig by someone else, rather than by him.
If you could design a way that a disabled person could windsurf, you would be an absolute legend!
I have seen many disabled skiers -and they are really awesome with what they can do.
Hey,
I used to help out with Sailability down here in Melbourne and I can remember Chris Mitchell, who designed the Access Dinghy had mucked around with a few open-deck ideas. Sort of a mix between a Laser Dinghy and a sailboard. I don't know if it went any further than an idea....
I saw a setup out sailing a couple of weeks back, it was a very small / narrow catamaran with a blokart rig on it, and a fixed seating position. The hulls were molded, but I can't say that the whole setup was an official 'manufactured' product. It did look ideal for a less agile sailor though, provided they didn't capsize it.
Not quite a wheelchair windsurfer, but I wonder just how much of this already physical pastime can be replicated for the less-able before it becomes something else entirely? (like a cat/trimaran with an unstayed rig...)
Unfortunately I didn't get a close look at it as we were already late getting in, and had to pack up in a hurry to avoid any further "repercussions" at home!
Thanks 555. Thats food for thought. To this point the concept is a wide board with two 'outriggers' that clear the water when momentum is gained. Re; the unstayed mast. Part of the thrill of windsurfing over conventional sailing is the freedom we have with a free rig. I was considering some kind of restricting frame/restricter to hold the rig from falling over completely to reduce uphauling, which would be challenging from a sitting position to say the least.
Thanks again to you who have contributed ideas. If I am ever able to create something I will put it up here. I already have a test pilot lined up who is keen for a go
