Sailing For The Less Abled

Shotwick Lake Sailing has a policy of welcoming people of all abilities. It is currently on a long path to improve facilities at the club to make it easier for people with varying abilities to take an active  part in this wonderful sport. 

The following article was written during the opening of the new floating jetty in 2003. Since this time, in association with ‘Aquadis’, a local swimming club for the disabled, and initiatives by the club itself, three specially designed ‘Access’ dinghies have been purchased to allow full use of the lake by less abled persons. Please contact us for more details.

PLAIN SAILING FOR DISABLED MARINERS (Article From 2003)

It’s plain sailing for all at a Deeside sailing club where special facilities have been introduced to allow people with physical disabilities to enjoy the pastime.  Corus Colors Sailing Club (now Shotwick Lake Sailing) has provided a new floating jetty and hoist at Shotwick Lake close to Deeside Industrial Park Zone 4.

Club members have built and installed a concrete ramp and a new three-section jetty to provide safe wheelchair access from the shore to the water. A hand-winch has been fitted at the end of the jetty to allow a disabled sailor wearing a safety harness to be lowered into a dinghy.

The £1250 cost of the galvanised steel hoist was met by a donation from the computer staff at Corus Shotton (now Tata Steel). The Corus Colors engineering business at Shotton fabricated the stainless steel bearing brackets for the hoist. The new £3,000 jetty is built of galvanised steel and recycled plastic.

Club commodore Tony Forster, who is a laboratory services manager at the steelworks, said  The club already has physically disabled members but we are now hoping that the provision of these new, improved facilities will encourage more to join in the activities”.

The new facilities, together with the recently completed safety boat garage, training room and race officer tower, was opened by Shotton works’ manufacturing director, Scott Carr.