Saturday 20th July 2024

Wow! Where to start? So many photographs to choose from but it was people’s words that meant so much on the day. From everyone involved out on the water to club members filling the club bar later in the day, was the fact that the entire day was about giving disabled children, adults and their families and carers so many unbelievable memories, often very hard to come by, when faced with mega challenges in their lives. To see the smiles on their faces and hear their laughter, especially when they got drenched with water was so uplifting for us all at SHYC. A huge thank you goes out to the Eastbourne RNLI who, without their salvage pump, we wouldn’t have got so wet and had so much fun, to Shane and son Cayden with his rebellious pirates on Kraken Rib, to Bob Lawrence on Kestrel Warrior who with Gary Mead and Martin Fisher sorted out the gold coin treasure in the lobster pot, to Lionel Hartley who once again was willing to be pushed over board at least three times (even though he lost his trousers on the first dunking), to Dave the Fish and his crew including Vice-Commodore Annie Brooks and Chris Brooks as Captain Flint on Shearwater, to the boats who came out into the bay – Rob Martin on Ariana, and Frank Tomline on Stephanie. Kratos also went out but had to retire early due to injury (the boat that is!!) and Morwenna who joined in from their berth as we came up to North Harbour. And last but not least to Les and the bar staff and kitchen staff who had a very busy afternoon and evening keeping everyone fed and watered and the amazing Sam Hughes who entertained us as Elton John and with a clammering from the audience for some Meatloaf, he ended the night with Bat Out Of Hell.

Wow – what a day!
On behalf of all the families that have been enjoying trips on Wetwheels over this and last week, and not wishing to duplicate what has already been written above, I would just like to add my own heartfelt thank you to all those that have helped make it happen this year – and already helped to build a fund towards getting the boats back next year.
Your support is so important to so many people living with disabilities and their families. It has enabled many to enjoy a trip on Wetwheels and in so doing create memories that will last their lifetime.
The total money raised on Saturday in the raffle and auction was £3,516. This, along with the £3,970 raised at the Summer Ball has been allocated to the fund to bring the Wetwheels boats back next year, which leaves £11,000 to be raised to cover the full cost of having the two boats here next year.
On behalf of the board of trustees of Wetwheels Foundation,
Thank You.
Trevor Phillips. 

June 2024

Once again we will have 2 boats visiting Sovereign Harbour this month, one arriving on 15 July and the other arriving on 19 July. Saturday will see a repeat of their Pirates Day trips with both the Wetwheels boats. Participants and crews will be dressed as pirates and looking to  ‘fight’ anyone they come across in their search for treasure around the harbour and at sea. Last year, the weather meant the boats had to search within the confines of the harbour but still led to many water fights and the discovery of gold coins in the North Harbour! We are hoping that the weather will be kinder this year and the pirate boats will be able to search further out in the bay, locking out at 11:00 and again at 14:00.

For the disabled participants onboard this is a much anticipated & enjoyed day. Shane will be taking the mighty https://kraken-rib-tours.co.uk/  out to join in the fun on the water and we would like to encourage all members to get involved – those with boats please dress up and join in the fun – but be prepared to get wet!! For members that cannot get out on the water please wander over to the locks to watch the fun as the boats exit and return – you will witness first hand the joy that these trips give to those with disabilities – and then please come along to the evening in the club.

Once everyone has dried off, the fun will continue in the yacht club with live music from Sam Hughes the Youngest Elton John tribute act in the country. There will be a Mexican Buffet and an abridged menu served in the club and we will be holding a raffle with some wonderful prizes to raise more money for Wetwheels to bring the boats back next year.

It costs about £16,000 to have the boats here in the harbour for the two weeks and run trips for local people with disabilities – many of whom have never had the opportunity to go to sea before due to their condition. Since we started supporting Wetwheels,  SHYC members have raised in excess of £14,000 with £2,050 raised on Pirates Day last year – please come along and help us beat that sum this year.

Trevor Phillips

Trustee, Wetwheels Foundatio

To find out more about this amazing charity which helps so many disabled children and yound adults, please follow the link below.

https://wetwheelsfoundation.org/

At our Masked Sumer Ball on Saturday 6th July, Trevor Phillips read out a poem written by a young boy called Mason who suffered from DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and who had been able to enjoy a truly amazing experience with Wetwheels. It tugged at everyone’s heart strings.

DMD is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. The symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 2 and 3. The disease primarily affects boys and life expectancy is usually about 25 years of age.

This is what the Wetwheels Foundation is all about.