The Even Keel roject celebrates a successful first year

The Even Keel Project is a new and exciting sailing initiative which offers a free of charge sailing opportunity for everyone, with a particular focus on those people with disabilities and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Even Keel Project is a fresh concept and hopes to attract many new sailors to the joys and benefits the sport offers, whilst also highlighting the fact it provides an excellent vehicle for crossing the disability divide, opening up a whole new world for everyone alike.

The project aims to ‘empower individuals to conquer their dream’ and as well as providing their members with something to aspire to, they also aim to help support them in building upon their early experiences should they wish. The Even Keel Project has been established to support those who show a true desire to further progress their sailing knowledge and skill sets through RYA courses, training and events.

The Even Keel Project’s plan involves establishing sailing sites around the globe which provide a free of charge sailing opportunity for anyone who wishes to give it a try, with particular emphasis on those with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. The establishment of these sites is funded through sponsorship partners and the ongoing operations are supported by the charitable arm of the project and any additional fund raising activities each site can engage in.

The project’s success this year has been made possible by the kind sponsorship and support of their UK site partner, Artemis Investment Management, one of the UK’s leading investment management companies and a key supporter of British sailing. The project has also been supported by Puma who have kindly provided the team with some cutting edge clothing to fit with the image the project has achieved this year.

The project was launched in 2009 and in a little over two months, the site has already introduced over two hundred new sailors to the sport at no cost, many of whom would not have been able to find such opportunities anywhere else. One person in particular is Natasha Lambert, a twelve year old fun loving girl with Cerebral Palsy.

Natasha’s mother, Amanda comments, “In the last month Natasha has been able to sail twice as part of the Even Keel Project, and thoroughly enjoyed her time on the water - she comes back beaming! The Even Keel team have been marvellous in arranging everything and are so accommodating, helpful and cheerful. Sailing is the perfect sport for Natasha to be able to participate in – it’s local for us and is a sport that all the family can take part, including Natasha’s younger sister. Who knows, one day they may even be able to race each other on an Even Keel!”

The accessibility and huge potential of the Artemis 20 boat was illustrated by Hilary Lister, the inspirational quadriplegic yachtswoman, who completed her ambitious project to sail solo around the British Isles in September. Hilary undertook the incredible feat using her trusty Artemis 20 yacht, the same yacht that saw her successfully sail around the Isle of Wight in 2007, sailed using a 'sip and puff' system.

Talking about the highly adaptable Artemis 20 yacht, Hilary concluded, “I love the Artemis 20, she is a fantastic boat to sail that has looked after me so well, seeing me through everything from force 0 to force 6 and gusting 40 knots. The important thing is that she is a great looking boat that people want to sail, whether they are professionals, amateurs, have never sailed or go on the water every day, and that is very important for disabled people. Everybody is very excited about the prospect of what the Artemis 20 can do and I hope I have shown some of that potential.”

After such a successful first year the project is now focussing on going forwards and already has a number of exciting directions they are considering. Watch this space! If you would like to learn more about The Even Keel Project and how you can become involved please visit their website: www.theevenkeel.com or email: info@theevenkeel.com. You can also become a fan on their new Facebook page and stay updated via Twitter as well!