A charitable sailing foundation has excelled at Cowes Week.

The Andrew Cassell Foundation, which supports people with physical disabilities and mental health conditions, has had three crews sailing in the Sonar class on ACF Dolphin, ACF Spare Part and ACF Limbitless.

The ACF Dolphin was placed third overall, with the ACF Limbitless placed seventh and the ACF Spare Part tenth.

The foundation, which sails out of Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, was set up by Paralympian Andrew Cassell after winning gold at the Atlanta 1996 games. 

After coming back from the Olympics, Andrew was determined to give something back to the sport he loved.

The foundation aims to boost participants’ confidence through mentoring within a supportive culture, and sailors have gone on to be able to compete on equal terms with able-bodied sailors.

“We’ve achieved all we set out to in the first three days, which is giving the experience of a level playing field,” said Matt, foundation director.

“The lighter, calmer weather this year has been easier on our crew’s disabilities. We have a range of disabilities, from visual impairment, autism and dyspraxia, deafness, brain injury and amputees.

“Cowes Week is a celebration of how the year’s gone for us.”

Crew member of ACF Limbitless and amputee Jock said: “I thought that I’d just give it a go, and with all the help I was getting from the foundation, everything has fallen into place. 

“With these people, they make it so much easier. 

“I’ve only been sailing twice in my life and sailing six weeks here, I’ve been in four races.

“The foundation helps me with my mental health because coming here, you escape from it. You’re not left in your mind anymore."