More than 50 Hampshire teenagers who have moderate to severe learning difficulties took to the water during a 2 day programme of activities to experience the thrill and excitement of sailing thanks to Hampshire County Council's Connexions and The Artemis Even Keel Project UK.
With great support from the local community and especially Hardway Sailing club

Hampshire Connexions, provides Advice, Information and Support  for young people, from the age of 13 – 19 years and up to 24 with Special Needs
and Artemis Even Keel Project uk, based at UKSA, Cowes offers the opportunity to anyone with a disability to participate alongside able bodied people
for a chance to experience what sailing has to offer.  Together we joined forces to give the students from St Vincent College in Gosport the opportunity
to take part and sail in Portsmouth Harbour on 14 and 15 June. based at Hardway S.C

Fifty three students from the College, aged 16 to 20, visited the Hardway Sailing Club, Gosport for 'Try Sailing' sessions in our Artemis 20 racing keelboats.
The 'Try Sailing' session will gave the students a taster of sailing with qualified instructors on hand to show them the ropes quite literally! They learnt how
to make rope knots, enjoyed a Barbeque and one of the students provided music plus there were games on the green nearby.

Event organiser, Beverley Simmons from Hampshire Connexions said: "The idea for this event came about as a result of seeing the Even Keel project at a
Learning and Physical Disabilities Open Day hosted by DotComUnity.org.uk. I was impressed with the adaptive sailing programmes on offer. The aim of the
'Try Sailing' event was to broaden the students' interests and experiences and  some may even take up the sport themselves now
We had an exciting and energetic day and I am so pleased that so many people have pulled together to make this happen, not forgetting the sailing club
who allowed us to use their premises and boats, and members who gave up their time to help.  I cannot thank everyone enough."

This kind of event where we are able to take sailing to the people and provide these kind of different experiences is the perfect way to spread the Even Keel message,
one of inspiration and inclusion & with feedback such as below we are on the way to achieving all of our goals

Dear Even Keel
 
A massive thank you on behalf of all the students in Prep, Bridging and Dip Voc for the two days of fantastic sailing that you and the rest of the crew at evenkeel have given us,
The unique sailing experience that you have provided for our students will stay with them forever and maybe inspire a few to take up sailing in the future. I was thrilled to be in
a boat with Harry and witness the enjoyment and confidence build within him as we glided through the water. I looked across at one point at Alexander, a student who finds it
difficult to communicate how he is feeling, however the broad grin on his face left no doubt as to how much he was enjoying himself.
 
Thank you once again for allowing me to witness the pleasure that Even Keel brought to all the students that took part in the sailing and I am looking forward to next years event already.

We look forward to providing such an event next year and creating even more sailing enthusiasts.