Manx charity Sailing for the Disabled is proud to announce that its new boat, Pride of Mann III, is arriving in Douglas harbour on Sunday (September 28th).
The vessel will sail through to the inner harbour on the 1.45pm bridge lift and then moor up at the charity’s pontoon at approximately 2pm. Members of the charity, its Patron Sir Miles Walker and invited guests will be on the harbour side to greet her and her crew.
Chairman of Sailing for the Disabled Ian McCauley said: ‘We are all very excited that after years of raising funds for a new boat and carefully choosing one which would enable more people to sail, Pride of Mann III is finally arriving at her new home. We are looking forward to a rousing Manx welcome with as much noise as we can make.’
The last few months have been very busy since the charity took the decision in April this year to buy a Beneteau Oceanis 48. In four short months, the boat was constructed in Nantes, France, and then taken to the Hamble on the Solent to be specially adapted by Hamble Yacht. The adaptations were undertaken in four weeks with much discussion and reviewing by members of the charity involving telephone calls, visits, testing, videos and photographs. They were completed on 12th September in time to take the boat to the Southampton Boat Show.
Pride of Mann III was one of the stars of the show, which is visited by over 120,000 people. The volunteer crew provided regular sails for visitors at the show, including those from a number of charities.
The charity’s Vice Chairman and Skipper of the boat Rodger Clague said: ‘The crew has been outstanding in providing sails for a wide range of people throughout the eight days we were at the show. Our new boat has showcased what can be done to make a standard yacht more accessible for people with disabilities. We were very pleased that so many Manxies at the show came down to see us and said how delighted they were with the new boat.’
The charity is very grateful to all its sponsors and in particular, Nedbank Private Wealth and ILS Fiduciaries, who helped with the complicated processes involved in ordering and importing the boat. In addition, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company provided transport for the transfer of equipment off the Island to the new boat.
Sir Miles Walker CBE, Patron of the Charity, said: ‘Sunday will be such an exciting day in the life of this wonderful charity when we welcome our beautiful new yacht to her Island home. I know that she will provide great opportunities and thrills for an extended number of our members, this only made possible by the support of so many sponsors and friends.’
