Anyone else catch this link? Very impressive. I'm amazed by her determination and ability to see the positive side of her situation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2008/04/22/st_hilarylister.xml

Something like this could be great in the states. Forget the AC and take people sailing.

I seem to recall someone on this board having been interested in a similar setup for a trimaran. Figured I'd share.

Awesome! Should be inspiring for those more fortunate.

That is an amazing story! She made sailing look so easy from her wheelchair, it makes me feel bad that I've ever had difficulty with it.

Tragic though, how she ended up like that... mis-diagnosis and treatments which made her worse off. It's incredible that sailing is the only way she finds freedom of movement.

US SAILING does have a program. See http://ussailing.org/olympics/Paralympic/

Locally at Sail Sand Point in Seattle, we just got two 2.4 meter R's. In the process of rebuilding them for our sailors with special needs. We also have a Trapseat for the Hobie 16's. Trapseat Worlds were held next door in B.C. Canada in 2005.

Plenty of programs available, just have include them in your local sailing centers.

Caleb Tarleton
www.sailsandpoint.org

Good Video on the programs. http://bullbearsailing.com/video_showcase.php?flvtoplay=../video_uploads/DS%20Final.flv

Caleb, you beat me to both points...

I've seen all of these boats sailing. BRU Cat, my 1997 Hobie 16 was used to demo the trapseat at an event in Newport several years ago.

I was the weather mark RO for the Paralympic trials in Newport last October.

From what I've seen, the H16 needs quite a bit of ability. The skipper is the disabled person, the crew needs to be fully able-bodied, especially if using the spinnaker.

The Paralympic boats are all set up for disabled people (skipper and crew), and come in one, two, or three crew varieties.

All in all, absolutely amazing what these people go through.

Mike