Sailing Into Wellness

What Sailing Into Wellness does

Sailing Into Wellness is a not-for-profit social enterprise and registered Irish charity founded in 2016 by James Lyons and Colin Healy, headquartered in Kinsale, Co. Cork, and operating from 10 locations nationwide. The organisation delivers Educational and Therapeutic Sailing Programmes for individuals facing addiction, criminal justice involvement, intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges, homelessness, and youth social exclusion, working alongside referral partners such as Coolmine, Aiséirí, Cork Simon Community, Focus Ireland, Foróige, and Stewarts Care.

The core technology is a methodological framework combining adventure therapy, experiential learning, person-centred and strengths-based approaches, the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), and trauma-informed practice, delivered through sailing on a fleet that includes the historic 56ft A.K. ILEN (Ireland's last remaining wooden ocean-going sailing ship, built 1926), the Oelvira O.E. 38 cruising yacht, Hawk 20 keelboats, and a Ribcraft 4.8 support powerboat. Programmes are structured into Day-Sailing, multi-day Voyages, an accredited Progression track (Irish Sailing NGB certifications), and bespoke Tailored Programmes, including the Department of Justice-funded 'New Horizons' recidivism initiative and the Stewarts Care Inclusion Sailing Hub.

The organisation is funded entirely through charitable channels: donations and individual fundraising (€50–€500 tiers), corporate sponsorship (JPMG, ROW, Dubarry), plus grants from government departments (Department of Justice, Department of Rural and Community Development), statutory bodies (HSE, Heritage Council, ETBs), and philanthropic foundations (Rethink Ireland, The Ireland Funds). The most recent significant funding is the €2.5 million+ New Solutions Social Innovation Fund 'Scaling Up' grant running to 31 March 2028. There are no participant fees, and 100% of funds are reinvested into programme delivery.

Name

Sailing Into Wellness

Legal name

Sailing Into Wellness CLG

Website

https://sailingintowellness.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sailing Into Wellness is an Irish registered charity delivering therapeutic and educational sailing programmes for marginalised groups including addiction recovery, criminal justice, intellectual disability, mental health, youth, and homelessness populations across 10 locations in Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Sailing Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Deep Sea Passenger Transportation (483112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

Keywords

• Therapeutic sailing programmes
• Addiction recovery support
• Blue space therapy
• Community-based sailing
• Adventure therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Kinsale, Cork

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations at various levels (€50 for half-day inclusion-sail, €100 for full day inclusion-sail, €500 for one month's day-sailing programme) and support from private donors.
2. Charitable Grants and Government Funding: Funding from government departments (Department of Justice Community Safety Innovation Fund), statutory bodies (HSE, Heritage Council, ETBs), and charitable foundations (Rethink Ireland, The Ireland Funds). The New Solutions Social Innovation Fund 'Scaling Up' grant runs until 31 March 2028.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Support from corporate sponsors including JPMG, ROW, and Dubarry who provide funding and resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sailing Into Wellness delivers Educational and Therapeutic Sailing Programmes across Ireland for marginalised individuals, using sailing vessels as a vehicle for personal development, mental health, and addiction recovery support. Programmes are delivered free to participants through partnerships with community organisations and government bodies, and combine evidence-based therapeutic approaches (Adventure Therapy, Community Reinforcement Approach, Trauma-Informed, Person-Centred, Strengths-Based) with experiential sailing on the A.K. ILEN, Oelvira O.E., Hawk 20 keelboats, and Ribcraft powerboats.

Product overview

Sailing Into Wellness is a not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity delivering Educational and Therapeutic Sailing Programmes across Ireland. The portfolio consists of four core programme types: Day-Sailing Programme (entry-level keelboat sailing with 4 participants per session), Voyages Programme (multi-day live-aboard experiences on historic wooden vessels), Progression Programme (accredited sailing certification pathway), and Tailored Programmes (custom long-term therapeutic programmes for specific populations). The fleet includes the flagship A.K. ILEN (56ft wooden sailing ship), Oelvira O.E. 38 cruising yacht, Hawk 20 keelboats, and Ribcraft powerboats. Specialised offerings include the New Horizons programme (Department of Justice-funded recidivism prevention) and the Stewarts Care Inclusion Sailing Hub for intellectual disabilities. Programmes operate from 10 locations nationwide using a therapeutic approach combining adventure therapy, experiential learning, person-centred, strengths-based, Community Reinforcement Approach, and trauma-informed methodologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day-Sailing Programme Entry-level sailing programme using keelboats (Hawk 20) for participants to learn sailing skills while embarking on a transformative personal development journey. Includes hands-on experiential learning, reflection, and integration of a person-centred, strengths-based therapeutic approach. Capacity for 4 participants per session. Delivered free to referred participants through partner organisations.
• Voyages Programme Multi-day live-aboard sailing programmes on historic wooden sailing ships A.K. Ilen or Oelvira O.E. cruising yacht. Participants develop sailing skills, navigation knowledge, and engage in personal development while living and working on the vessel. A.K. Ilen accommodates 9 overnight or 12 day-sailing participants plus 3 professional crew.
• Progression Programme Stepping stone programme for Day-Sailing and Voyages graduates to acquire internationally recognized sailing certification through Irish Sailing NGB qualifications including Competent Crew, Keelboat Level 1 Certificate, and National Powerboat Certificate.
• Tailored Programmes Long-term, tailored therapeutic sailing programmes developed in collaboration with organisations and government bodies to meet specific strategic goals. Includes multi-year duration programmes for addiction relapse prevention, recidivism prevention, and intellectual disabilities.
• New Horizons Programme Two-year therapeutic sailing programme funded by Department of Justice through Community Safety Innovation Fund, focused on recidivism prevention for individuals within or exiting the criminal justice system. Year 1 includes Day-Sailing, 3-Day Voyage, and 5-Day Voyage on A.K. Ilen. Year 2 progresses to Watch Leader and Competent Crew NGB certification.
• Stewarts Care Inclusion Sailing Hub Ireland's first professionally-run Inclusion Sailing Hub, developed in partnership with Stewarts Care. Based in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, running 5 days per week, specifically designed for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Donation Platform Online donation system powered by SumUp enabling supporters to contribute to therapeutic sailing programmes at various giving levels (€50, €100, €500 or custom amounts). Funded programmes are delivered free to participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of participants welcomed since 2018, with evidence-based results showing increased confidence, self-efficacy, resilience, teamwork, and social connection.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cork Simon CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organisation providing homelessness support services. Partners with Sailing Into Wellness to deliver therapeutic sailing programmes to individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk.
• Coolmine Therapeutic CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAddiction recovery centre providing therapeutic community programmes. Works with Sailing Into Wellness to offer sailing-based personal development for individuals in recovery.
• AiséirícoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAddiction recovery organisation. Collaborates on sailing programmes that support clients in building social recovery capital and personal growth.
• Focus IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomelessness charity working to end homelessness through prevention, intervention, and advocacy. Partners for sailing programmes supporting individuals affected by homelessness.
• ForóigecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth organisation providing youth development programmes. Delivers sailing experiences for young people as part of personal development initiatives.
• Stewarts CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Ireland's largest disability service providers (5th largest). Developed Ireland's first professionally-run Inclusion Sailing Hub in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin in partnership with Sailing Into Wellness. Hub piloted May 2024, runs 5 days per week.
• SailLife (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian sailing organisation hosting programmes specifically for people struggling with substance misuse. Partner in Erasmus+ SailMyLife project alongside 4exodus and Sailing Into Wellness.
• 4exodus (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Social Cooperative supporting people post-incarceration through education, work and volunteerism. Partner in Erasmus+ SailMyLife project for sport-based recovery therapy.
• Port of CorkminorOthersHarbour authority providing port access and support for sailing operations in Cork Harbour.
• Sail Training AssociationminorOthersSail training organisation providing accreditation and support for sailing programmes and crew certification.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jubilee Sailing Trust: The UK's leading charity using sailing to enable inclusion for people with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities. Direct comparable to Sailing Into Wellness in mission, beneficiary profile, and adapted-vessel delivery model.
• Tall Ships Youth Trust: UK charity using square-rigged sail training voyages for young people from all backgrounds including those facing disadvantage. Operates heritage tall ships paralleling Sailing Into Wellness's A.K. ILEN model.
• Oceans of Hope Foundation: Denmark-founded international charity using sailing to empower people living with multiple sclerosis (now expanded to other neurological conditions). Closely comparable disease-population therapeutic sailing model.
• Challenge Wales: Wales-based charity delivering sail training voyages for young people and adults, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, on a 72-foot yacht. Similar youth-and-personal-development sailing model.
• The Cirdan Trust: UK sail training charity enabling disadvantaged young people to experience voyages as a means of personal development. Operates on multi-day voyages with therapeutic/educational overlay similar to Sailing Into Wellness's Voyages Programme.
• Toe in the Water: UK charity providing sailing opportunities for wounded, injured, and sick serving Armed Forces personnel. Therapeutic delivery model on water for vulnerable/excluded populations is highly comparable to Sailing Into Wellness's mission.

Broad incumbents

• Sail Training International: International umbrella body representing sail training operators worldwide. Provides accreditation, events, and policy coordination across the sector in which Sailing Into Wellness operates; an established broader industry stakeholder rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Sail for Epilepsy: US charity leveraging sailing experiences to empower people with epilepsy, focused on wellness, community, and self-efficacy. Comparable therapeutic-sailing-for-specific-population positioning to Sailing Into Wellness's vertical segments.
• Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust: UK charity using sailing to support young people in recovery from cancer. Therapeutic sailing-for-recovery model with similar outcome language (confidence, self-belief, social connection) and beneficiary cohort.

Regional players

• Sail Training Ireland: Irish sail training umbrella organisation coordinating youth and adult sail training provision across Ireland. Operates in the same domestic ecosystem and supports accreditation pathways Sailing Into Wellness depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights13 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sailingintowell
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sailingintowellness8002
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sailingintowellness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sailing-into-wellness
• Instagraminstagram.com/sailingintowellness?igsh=emlxd3RkZ2gwdXBy
• TikToktiktok.com/@sailingintowellness

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Sailing Into Wellness