Please select your home edition
Edition
GP Watercraft leaderboard

WETA's for disabled people

by Mike Wood on 10 Dec 2016
Best performanc with crew to ballance the boat Mike Wood
While the Paralympic world ponders the technicalities of disabled people you may be interested to know that disabled people in the UK have been sailing and racing them for over 10 years.

The UK's Disabled Sailors Association (DSA) has a small fleet of Wetas and either provides dinghy sailing free of charge to disabled people or loans boats to people who promise to use them on a regular basis.

Rod steering is very positive © Mike Wood
Rod steering is very positive © Mike Wood



It is very easy indeed to adapt the Weta and the DSA provides modifications which allow any disability to sail them, single handed or with one or two crew. The most popular 'mod' is fitting a racing seat on the centre line allowing severely disabled people to enjoy this versatile craft.

Two Wetas are kept on the Mar Menor in Southern Spain which allows all year round sailing and racing and inexpensive holidays.

Spanish National Team members try a Weta in 2011 © Mike Wood
Spanish National Team members try a Weta in 2011 © Mike Wood


Very comfortable © Mike Wood
Very comfortable © Mike Wood


Wetas will sail with and rig combination © Mike Wood
Wetas will sail with and rig combination © Mike Wood


Easy access to seat © Mike Wood
Easy access to seat © Mike Wood

A+T QBD7C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

2026 Star Europeans at Medemblik Day 3
ohlhoff and Burzinski take today's bullet With severe weather forecast to reach the IJsselmeer during the afternoon, the Race Committee made the most of the morning conditions, sending the fleet away on time at 12:00 for what would prove to be the only race of Day 3 at the 2026 Star Europeans.
Posted today at 2:58 pm Bronze Fleet at the RS2000 Nationals
Plus a report from RNSA's lucky sailors Having been to most RS2000 Nationals since Rutland in 2003, we enter each year with the hope of improving on the previous year. It is usually the highlight of our Summer. A week away with friends we don't get to see much.
Posted today at 1:21 pm Team Malizia takes on The Ocean Race Atlantic
Six teams from six nations will line up in NYC for 3,200nm sprint across North Atlantic to Lorient. From launching their new Malizia 4 race yacht in France to crossing the Atlantic and sailing more than 6,500 nautical miles in less than two months, Team Malizia has been through a fast-paced period of testing and training.
Posted today at 1:19 pm CVRDA open meeting at Bowmoor
13 boats gather, including a rather nice wooden Gull and Enterprise number 15 An eclectic mix of Classic and vintage boats gathered at Bowmoor Sailing club over the weekend of 8th and 9th August for this year's CVRDA Open meeting. The usual suspects began to arrive as early as Friday afternoon.
Posted today at 1:14 pm AC Recon: Aug 26 - "Significant bow-up trim"
"The new rudder ventilated and stalled during the bear-away. The boat trimmed bow-up significantly." On one of these, the new rudder ventilated and stalled during the bear-away. The boat trimmed bow-up with a sharp angle of attack before falling back into the water. A new slow-motion video compilation of the 4sec long incident has been added.
Posted today at 11:48 am Craftinsure Supernova Travellers at Bartley
Rigging up under a blazing sun and a stronger than forecast breeze On the morning of Sunday 2nd August, 13 competitors descended upon Bartley reservoir. With 11 home boats and 2 visiting sailors, the boat park was busy as everyone rigged up under a blazing sun and a stronger than forecast breeze.
Posted today at 11:36 am Streaker South-East Series at Arun
The forecast was presenting a day of two halves Saturday 22nd August, Arun Yacht Club hosted their first Streaker dinghy open. The forecast was presenting a day of two halves. The morning promised a light northerly wind, later veering south to fill in with the sea breeze.
Posted today at 11:21 am Largs Regatta Festival 2026 Mid Week Series
Some exciting sailing in the fresh easterly wind Largs Regatta Festival 2026 continued with three midweek races with some exciting sailing in the fresh easterly wind. Sponsored by insurance company Haven Knox-Johnston, it was all to sail for as the overall prize was a fantastic GoPro camera.
Posted today at 10:57 am In Memoriam: His Majesty King Harald V of Norway
World Sailing's President of Honour passes away On behalf of the global sailing community, World Sailing mourns the passing of our revered President of Honour, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.
Posted today at 10:24 am IMOCA Class back with The Ocean Race Atlantic
The first clash between DMG MORI Sailing Team and Team Malizia After a long hot summer, the IMOCA Class is back next week with The Ocean Race Atlantic, a trans-continental sprint featuring six mixed gender crews and an eagerly-awaited clash between two of the newest boats in the fleet.
Posted today at 9:40 am
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2026 Sail-World Sail-World United Kingdom and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy