14 February 2020 and the MissIsle School of Sip Puff Sailing were invited to Treloar School and College in Alton to be part of their Future Fest. This was an amazing day and gave us the opportunity to meet many other young people, with varying degrees of disability, and letting them know how truly accessible sailing now is. The response from the many people we met was so positive and we look forward to some of the making use of our school.
We have been asked if we would like to be part of this event again next year. The response is a resounding Yes Please.
17 June 2019 saw the long-awaited installation of the new crew hoist at Cowes Yacht Haven. Jamie Hogan from Caley Marina travelled down to check the installation and train staff on the proper and safe use of the hoist. The installation of this hoist was made possible through the generosity of Morrisons and the Royal London Yacht Club and will provide much needed assistance to disabled sailors and crew.
The MissIsle School of Sip Puff Sailing is very proud to announce that we have been accepted as an affiliated member of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). This is hugely important to us at the school as it shows our dedication in providing a service under the correct guidelines that the RYA provide. It does mean that we could be subject to scrutiny/inspection from the RYA at any time to ensure that we keep our Operating procedures etc fully up to date. The RYA also offers a great assistance to the school in helping us ensure that all our team are currently DBS checked for working with young and vulnerable people. They also offer an immediate support service should there be any concerns.
The Southern Co-op Funeral Service will be concentrating their fundraising efforts this year to raise funds in support of the Miss Isle School of Sip Puff Sailing.
November 2016 saw the school officially take on its first student, Hannah who traveled down from Lancashire.
Hannah travelled, with her careers, from Lancashire where she started sailing with her local Sailability group. Whilst she enjoyed her sailing there she wanted more freedom when sailing and approached the School via its web site.
Natasha Lambert’s charity funded Hannah’s course and at the Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff Sailing Hannah could use the unique straw sailing technology pioneered by Natasha’s dad Gary and tested by coaches, Phil and Alasdair.
On the first day Hannah familiarised herself with the boat and the system on the River Medina, which runs inland from Cowes where the School is based. On the second day Hannah sailed the boat herself, under the watchful eye of Miss Isle School coach Alasdair Boden.
Both days were challenging on the water and pretty tiring but Hannah commented on her return “Lovely to meet you Natasha. I've loved every minute, thank you so much for the opportunity. I feel privileged to have met you and to have worked with you and all of the team”.
Big thanks from the Miss Isle charity go to the safety boat team, Tony Badham and Cherrell Catlow, to Cowes Yacht Haven for providing a welcome shelter from the weather for safety briefings and to Natasha’s family, Gary and Amanda Lambert who were on hand to provide support and to see the months of hard work and preparation all come together on the water.
We have a feeling Hannah will be back in the Spring…
Donations are always welcome at http://www.missisle.org.uk/support-us
September 2016
The UK Maritime Pilot’s Association has donated £700 to the charity. The Association held its annual conference and dinner on the Isle of Wight and chose the School as one of two charities to benefit from the fund raising on the night.
The Miss Isle School of Sip & Puff Sailing (MISSPS) is a unique sailing, training and inspiring project, based on the Isle of Wight. It was founded by Natasha Lambert, a young sailor with athetoid cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair.
The charity provides affordable, professional sailing tuition to young people who can benefit from the sip and puff method of sailing. It also provides information, advice and support to them, their family and carers.
Natasha is well known for her spirit and determination and her own adventures at sea and on land aim to provide inspiration for others to achieve their goals, whatever their personal circumstances.
The Isle of Wight charity that enables young people with disabilities to go sailing, and inspires others to reach their goals, has received a welcome boost from the Morrisons Foundation.
Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff Sailing has been awarded a grant of £3000 towards the installation of a hoist at Cowes Yacht Haven. This will allow easy access to the charity’s boat for those who want to go sailing using the sip-puff method and will also benefit a range of other users who can only access boats using a hoist.
The Morrisons Foundation is the chief recipient of the monies generated through the sale of carrier bags in Morrisons stores in England, Wales and Scotland.Charity founder Natasha Lambert, a young sailor with athetoid cerebral palsy, received the cheque at the Newport Morrisons on the Isle of Wight.
The hoist should be in place before the beginning of the sailing season next year.
Copyright© Miss Isle School of Sip & Puff Sailing
Miss Isle School of Sip & Puff Sailing is a registered charity, number 1162550
