Sailing Into Wellness’ educational and therapeutic sailing programmes act as a platform for Personal, Community, Educational, Social, and Physical well-being. We collaborate with community-based organisations and government departments and build programmes specific to a group’s needs.
Sailing Into Wellness’ partners include Foróige, Cork Simon Community, D.R.O.P., Gheel Autism Services, Rehab, The RedDoor Project, C.A.M.H.S., Cork etb, wwetb, Coolmine Therapeutic Community, Cork Alliance Centre, Tinteán Housing Association, Turas, Vita Community Hub, Cornmarket Project, Aiséirí, Pride Sail and the Department of Justice, to name a few.
Our programmes focus on the strengths of individuals, which unfold within the natural setting of the sea, and empower participants by providing the necessary tools to explore pathways for making positive change in their lives.
‘Day-Sailing’ is our entry level programme. While learning the skills of sailing, our participants embark on a transformative journey that unveils their strengths, provides a platform for personal development and opens up discussions and reflection on what the future could hold.
Sailing Into Wellness’ voyages provide participants with a tangible experience of freedom and self-sufficiency, as they live, eat and sleep on board one of Ireland’s last wooden sailing ships, the historically renowned ‘AK Ilen’ or the 38ft ‘Olle Enderlein’ designed cruising yacht. Skippers, group leaders and participants have equal ranking on board and, together, participate in active reflection on programme engagement, progress and personal goal-setting, advocating pro-social behaviour.
These programmes are a stepping stone for keen ‘Day-Sailing’ and ‘Voyages’ Programme graduates to acquire Internationally recognised sailing certification. They are participant-focused and provide an inclusive pathway to sailing competency which may present independent volunteering and employment opportunities within the maritime sector.
We collaborate with organisations and government bodies, nationwide, to tailor in-depth Therapeutic Sailing Programmes which meet their specific, strategic goals and objectives. ‘New Horizons’ and ‘Stewarts Sailing Hub’ are two example programmes.
‘New Horizons’ a two-year programme, is funded by the Department of Justice, through the Community Safety Innovation Fund. The programme utilises the unique environment of being at sea, where participants live and interact in close quarters with peers, to provide a powerful setting for personal development and to foster social integration. Delivered in a supportive, yet challenging environment by professionals, the New Horizons programme enables individuals to develop pro-social relationships, learn new skills and navigate challenges to reduce their risk of re-offending.
In Year 1, participants participate in our Day-Sailing programme, a 3-Day Voyage on our 38ft O.E. designed cruising yacht, followed by a 5-Day Voyage on our 56ft ‘A.K. Ilen’ wooden sailing ship. In Year 2, participants progress to ‘Watch Leader’ and ‘Competent Crew’ N.G.B. certification and deeper personal development.
Sailing Into Wellness, in partnership with ‘Stewarts Care’ developed Ireland’s first professionally-run Inclusion Sailing Hub.
Stewarts Care, the 5th largest provider of disability services in Ireland, has a wealth of professional expertise from their extensive work with people with intellectual disabilities. Programmes are designed and delivered specifically to meet participants’s needs and requirements. With 10 years+ experience of delivering on-the-water programmes to people with complex needs, Sailing Into Wellness’s professional expertise was integral to the Hub’s success.
The Inclusion Sailing Hub, based in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, was piloted in May 2024, and now runs 5 days per week.
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