Physical or learning difficulties

It is possible to arrange sailing trips for many young people with a variety of physical or learning difficulties, as well as behavioural issues, various illnesses, or other specific requirements such as dietary restrictions, allergies etc.

How to sail with us

Physical or learning difficulties

It is possible to arrange sailing trips for many young people with a variety of physical or learning difficulties, as well as behavioural issues, various illnesses, or other specific requirements such as dietary restrictions, allergies etc. If you are considering booking a voyage for a young person and would like to discuss their needs or circumstances in confidence, please telephone the office on 02392 602278.

Not every young person is suited to a voyage on board Prolific (for example, the boat is not designed to accommodate severe mobility problems); but where it is possible to take a particular young person sailing, we will always do our best to offer them an appropriate and enjoyable voyage.

Where it is appropriate for a young person with particular needs to be included in a standard mixed voyage on board Prolific, then they will be able to book on the voyage of their choice. It is important that the skipper has as much information as possible about such a crew member’s circumstances so that any issues which arise during the voyage can be dealt with effectively and sensitively.

Young people with more severe or complex problems might be better off as part of a group voyage which is tailored to their needs. For example, we have sailed with a crew of young adults recovering from cancer, who brought medical staff as part of the group. We also have an annual voyage for a group with both physical and learning difficulties who come with just six young people and six adult staff to provide one-to-one support. A group such as this can be offered much less challenging sailing, with short days and more time in harbour. If you would like to discuss how a voyage might be designed to meet the needs of a particular group of young people, please contact the office

If Ocean Youth Trust South cannot accommodate an individual’s particular needs, it may be possible for us to recommend an alternative sailing organisation. The Jubilee Sailing Trust aims to promote the integration of able-bodied and physically disabled people through tall ship sailing adventure holidays and associated activities; RYA Sailability offers sailing opportunities for people with disabilities in locations across the UK.

Crew handbook

Booking a Voyage

Guide to booking a voyage

Tracking our boat

Find out where we are sailing

Prolific bookings

We look forward to seeing as many people as possible on board Prolific. See here for our 2023 sailing programme.

Bookings for 2023

View the 2023 sailing programme

New sailing programmes tend to be published in the early summer each year for the following year, which means we start looking at the next year’s plans in around May each year. If you are involved with a group which would like to book one or more voyages on board Prolific, please contact caroline.white@oytsouth.org to discuss your requirements.

How to sail with us

Ocean Youth Trust South is an adventure sail training charity which takes young people aged 11-25 to sea in our 30-metre vessel Prolific.

Individual Voyages

Voyages for people aged 11-25

 Group Voyages

Introduction for adult leaders

Adult Voyages

Voyages for people aged over 18