Rutland Sailability

What Rutland Sailability does

Rutland Sailability is a registered UK charity (Charity No: 1069540; Company Limited by Guarantee No: 3526980) founded in 1996 that provides accessible sailing opportunities for people with disabilities at Rutland Water, operating from the Rutland Sailing Club in Edith Weston. The organization runs a fleet of approximately 30 specialized adaptive boats — including Hansa 303/2.3 dinghies, Liberty, Challenger Trimaran, RS Venture SCS, Hawk 20, Drascombe Longboat, and SKUD 18 — many fitted with electric controls, joystick steering, and seated operation for sailors with limited mobility. The fully accessible venue includes 5 hoists, wheelchair ramps, lifts, purpose-built changing suites, golf buggies, and safety boats (RIBs) crewed by trained volunteers.

The charity is entirely volunteer-run, with no paid staff; governance sits with 7 trustees (Chairman Andrew St John, Treasurer Andrew Painter, Membership Secretary Jill Dunderdale, Chief Instructor Jonathan Schofield, and others) meeting monthly, and operational delivery by ~200 members (aged 7-87) plus an extended volunteer base. Service lines include adult sailing, youth sailing (Saturday mornings), special needs group sailing, RYA-affiliated training, in-house training (Hoist, Disability Awareness, Safer People Handling), and competitive racing at local through international level.

Revenue mechanics are non-commercial: annual operating budget of approximately £45,000 is funded by membership subscriptions (£35-£75/year), donations and corporate sponsorship (10+ Rotary clubs, Anglian Water/AVH Parks, Rutland Lions, HOGs), grants (National Lottery Community Fund, LEADER Programme), and community fundraising (Rutland Vineyard sunflower event £5,147.60, Easter events, Sailing Santas, easyfundraising). Members compete in local, European, and world events including Hansa International Championships; the organization hosted the Hansa UK National Championships in 2025 with 49 sailors from 12 Sailability groups. It received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2010 and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026.

Name

Rutland Sailability

Legal name

Rutland Sailability

Website

https://rutlandsailability.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rutland Sailability is a volunteer-run UK charity that provides accessible sailing, training, and racing for people with disabilities at Rutland Water, operating a 30-boat adaptive fleet and serving approximately 200 members aged 7 to 87.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Sailing Services

NAICS

Marinas (71393)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJAJAG

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Marine & Water Experiences (Boat Tours, Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing)

SECONDARYMPAKABAH

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Professional Sports Teams & Clubs

Keywords

• Adaptive sailing programs
• Disability sailing services
• Accessible water sports
• Sailing training courses
• Recreational sailing charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees contributing to running costs of approximately £45,000/year. Fees range from £35-£75 depending on membership category (Sailing, Non-Sailing, Youth Member, Duke of Edinburgh participants).
2. Donations and Sponsorship: Significant donations from Rotary clubs, corporate sponsors, and individuals for boat maintenance, equipment, and new boats. Major donors include Corby Phoenix Rotary, Blaby Rotary, Stamford Rotary, Rutland Rotary, Woodhall Spa Rotary, and others.
3. Grant Funding: Grants from National Lottery Community Fund (funded Thunderball Challenger trimaran), LEADER Programme/Opportunity Peterborough (donated vehicle and safety boat), AVH Parks/Anglian Water (£2,000/year reimbursement for sailing fees).
4. Fundraising Activities: Community fundraising events including Easter events, Sailing Santas, Stamford Fun Run, Rutland Vineyard sunflower event (£5,147.60 raised), and Wheels Round Rutland Water (wheelchair and bike event).
5. easyfundraising: Online fundraising through easyfundraising platform where purchases from over 4,000 retailers generate donations at no cost to the buyer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rutland Sailability provides accessible sailing, training, and racing opportunities for people with disabilities at Rutland Water. The charity operates a fleet of approximately 30 specially designed adaptive boats, including Hansa 303, Hansa 2.3, Liberty, Challenger Trimaran, RS Venture SCS, Hawk 20, Drascombe Longboat, and SKUD 18, supported by a fully accessible venue with hoists, ramps, and purpose-built changing facilities. Services include adult sailing, youth sailing (ages 7-18), special needs group sessions, RYA-affiliated training from novice to racing level, in-house training (hoist, disability awareness, safer people handling), and a volunteering programme.

Product overview

Rutland Sailability is a sailing charity operating from Rutland Water that provides accessible sailing experiences for people with disabilities. The organization offers a fleet of approximately 30 specially designed boats including the Hansa fleet (Hansa 303, Hansa 2.3, Liberty), Challenger Trimaran, RS Venture SCS, Hawk 20, Drascombe Longboat, and SKUD 18. These boats are designed to be stable, accessible from wheelchairs using hoists, and operable from a seated position. The charity supplements its boat fleet with services including RYA training programmes, in-house training courses, youth sailing, adult sailing, special needs sessions, racing opportunities, and a volunteering programme for both outdoor and indoor roles. All services are provided by unpaid volunteers at a fully accessible venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Sailing Programme Provides sailing opportunities for adults with disabilities, ranging from recreational trips to structured training for solo sailing and competitive racing at local, European, and world events.
• Youth Sailability Programme Saturday morning sailing sessions for children aged 7-18 with registered disabilities, teaching them to sail safely and independently with the goal of solo sailing.
• Special Needs Sailing Sessions Weekly sailing slots for groups of people with special needs and their carers, providing a safe on-water experience in Drascombe Longboats.
• RYA Training Programme RYA National Sailing Scheme training delivered by RYA-qualified instructors, taking students from novice to accomplished sailor.
• In-House Training Courses Internal training courses for volunteers and instructors covering Hoist Training, Disability Awareness, Safer People Handling, and Buggy and Tractor Driving.
• Volunteering Programme Programme offering indoor and outdoor volunteer opportunities including boat launching/recovery, maintenance, instruction, helm roles, reception, fundraising, IT, photography, and charity management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members aged 7 to 87 years successfully participate in sailing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Action4YouthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026RS gifted White Kinsman and one Longboat to Action4Youth who operate out of a site close to Milton Keynes.
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRYA is the UK governing body for boating. Rutland Sailability is affiliated to the RYA, which helps run an effective, efficient and compliant organisation. RS follows RYA training structures and is an RYA Affiliated Club.
• Rutland Sailing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRS is based at Rutland Sailing Club (LE15 8HJ) and uses their facilities. RS is a corporate member of the club. RS members can participate in Thursday evening and Sunday racing at the club.
• PASIC (Parents Association for Seriously Ill Children)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRS regularly hosts events for families supported by PASIC.
• GDCS (Grantham Disabled Children's Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRS regularly hosts events for disabled children supported by GDCS.
• Rutland 'Aiming High'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRS shares joy of being on water with this organization supporting young people with disabilities.
• easyfundraisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline fundraising platform with 4,000+ retailers. Purchases generate free donations to RS at no extra cost to buyers.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bendrigg Trust: Cumbrian outdoor activity centre for disabled people offering sailing among other sports. Compares as a wider disability-adventure charity serving overlapping beneficiaries through adaptive equipment and trained instruction.
• Calvert Trust Exmoor: Established UK outdoor disability charity providing adventure activities including water-based experiences. Broader scope than RS (multi-activity residential) but serves the same inclusive-leisure beneficiary segment.
• RYA Sailability: National umbrella programme under the Royal Yachting Association that Rutland Sailability is affiliated to. Directly comparable as the coordinating network of UK disability sailing groups, sharing training standards, RYA branding, and event calendars.

Direct peers

• Grafham Water Sailability: Cambridgeshire-based adaptive sailing club running similar Hansa-fleet training and recreational sessions. Peer of RS by virtue of overlapping catchment and direct participation in shared national championships.
• Welsh Harp Sailability: London-based accessible sailing club offering sessions for disabled sailors on similar Hansa and Challenger craft. Same volunteer-driven, membership-fee charity model serving the same primary segment.
• Hansa Sailing UK: Manufacturer/operator community behind the Hansa class of accessible dinghies that dominate RS's fleet. Directly comparable through shared equipment platform (Hansa 303, 2.3, Liberty) and joint hosting of competitive championships.
• Carsington Water Sailability: Another UK Sailability group delivering adaptive sailing sessions for people with disabilities using accessible boats. Operates the same membership-and-volunteer model and competes alongside RS in Hansa UK events.
• Mayflower Sailability (Plymouth): South-west UK Sailability group delivering the same adaptive sailing programmes for disabled adults and youth. Overlaps directly with RS in equipment (Hansa), beneficiary profile, and RYA-affiliated training.

Emerging players

• Action4Youth: Buckinghamshire youth charity that received donated boats (White Kinsman and Longboat) from RS in 2026 to launch its own adaptive water activities. Local, partial-overlap operator emerging in RS's own network.

Regional players

• East Lothian Sailability: Scottish Sailability group offering comparable adaptive sailing for people with disabilities. Same model and equipment but operating in Scotland rather than competing directly with RS in England.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDNqw4NcSrlFuWXFl3e6b9A

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rutland Sailability