Accessible Sailing

The Pupteetul

The Pupteetul

In December 2004, the Victoria Sailing Foundation donated a 20-foot fiberglass sailboat (Cal 20) to the EMCSS Maritime Program. This stable sailing boat, which we named the Pupteetul, (Salish for "a challenge") was the perfect addition to our "fleet," allowing us to increase accessibility of our sailing program to people with mobility challenges. In 2005, the District of Sooke, along with Sooke Marine Industries, Home Depot, Sooke Rotary Club, and the Variety Club provided us with the funding to put in a new dock with a ramp and a lift to transport people from the dock to the boat. SEAPARC provided funding for the safety gear.

The dock and lift

The Pupteetul is available to book for outings, subject to availability of one of our qualified skippers. Each outing will be planned with the booking group, and tailored to the participants' individual needs. Our aim is to provide the excitement and exhilaration of being on the water in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. The program offers fair-weather sailing (winds of 15 knots or less) in Sooke Basin and Sooke Harbour. The skippers are experienced, certified, and familiar with the local weather and tidal conditions, and the boat is fully equipped with safety gear.

To arrange for an outing, please click on the "Book an Outing" link and fill out the online form with the details of your request. We will then contact you to discuss details of the request and find a workable time.