Sailability at OSC
sailing for everyone
OSC is an RYA accredited Sailability Centre of Excellence, offering dedicated sailing sessions for disabled people and for people with complex learning difficulties through our Sailfree Scheme. Otley Sailing Club is entirely run by volunteers, with a dedicated team of over 30 people involved in running Sailfree alone.
Volunteering
If you have some spare time and would like to help out, please get in touch. No experience is necessary as full training is given, its great fun and very rewarding.
During term time, from April through to October, we host Sailability Sessions for local specialised schools on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition we organise a limited numbers of Sailfree Experience days for deserving cause
Our Sailfree activities are coordinated by a team of people and we are always interested in encouraging people with disabilities to take up sailing. If you would like further information, please contact our RYA Sailability representative sailfree@otley-sailingclub.co.uk
Sailfree History at OSC
Otley Sailing Club first began providing sailing opportunities for disabled people and people with complex learning difficulties under the “Sailing for All” banner in 1989 thanks to the vision and hard work of Norman Stephens and the then commodore, David Grimshaw, followed not long afterwards by Derek Chapman. In those days, the boats were standard Wayfarers, not the purpose built ‘Access’ Boats used today.
In 1993, “Sailfree” was born, but it was not until 1995 that the National Governing Body of our sport, the Royal Yachting Association, became involved and RYA Sailability (to which Sailfree is affiliated) became a reality.
We were proud to be recognized as a Sailability Centre of Excellence in 2008. In 2013 club received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service from the Lord Lieutenant of the County,Dr Ingrid Roscoe.This was followed by the Duke of York Award for voluntary service to the community.
This award is a very well deserved accolade for our tireless volunteers who regularly give up their time and expertise for the benefit of others and also for our many sponsors whose generosity over the years has enabled us to expand our Sailfree fleet to 9 Purpose Built Access Boats, 3 Comet Trios and a Pioneer Drop Front Safety Boat and the financial wherewithal to provide up 1000 sailing experiences to our clients every year. Standing still is not in our nature and the committee and volunteers are committed to the long term future of Sailfree. Over recent years, with the support of National and Local Charities, we have expanded and modernised our fleet of ACCESS boats, which now comprises of 12 Hansa 303's
Thank you to Everyone who supports Sailfree at Otley Sailing Club
The volunteers
You are an amazing group of people who make the weekly sessions happen week in, week out, whatever the weather. Of course you do it because its fun but the time and energy you contribute is just amazing.
Ilkley Round Table
In 2026 we had to replace the engine on one of our essential safety boats. The brilliant people at Ilkley Round Table stepped up to support the purchase of a new Suzuki outboard. Without their help we would have had to limp on with an engine that failed intermittently. Thank you so much for your support !!