New boat for Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer charity a 'game-changer' for young survivors

by Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust 14 Mar 07:07 NZDT

More young cancer survivors will be able to receive the vital support they need after treatment as the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust officially welcomed a new boat to its fleet today.

Dame Ellen MacArthur was joined by special guests, including many who have made the new boat possible, for the naming of the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1, Kalooki, at Buckler's Hard on the banks of the Beaulieu River in Hampshire.

At 46ft (over 14m), Kalooki is longer and wider than the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's other boats, allowing more young people to experience its transformational adventures, while bespoke accessibility adaptations mean more of those who need additional support with their mobility can benefit from the charity's support.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that takes young people aged 8-24 living through and beyond cancer on sailing and outdoor adventure trips to inspire them to believe in a brighter future. In 2024, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust supported 671 young people - the most since it was founded in 2003.

With demand for trip places projected to increase further in the coming years, Kalooki will allow more children, teenagers and young adults to access the vital support they need after the life-changing trauma of cancer treatment.

Through the generosity of a gentleman, who was an ardent sailor and who enthusiastically supported the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust over many years, the charity is absolutely delighted to be the recipient of this newly built 46ft yacht Kalooki. It is with much heartfelt appreciation and great expectation Kalooki is officially named today.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust worked in partnership with Ancasta Group, Europe's largest yacht broker, and globally renowned boatbuilders Beneteau, to bring Kalooki to the water.

She was adapted under the expertise of Ancasta Yacht Services at Port Hamble Marina and with advice from 28-year-old George Paxford, who first sailed with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust in 2009 following treatment for bone cancer in his leg and had an above-knee amputation after the cancer returned in 2018.

George, who now volunteers for the charity, helped map out ways of making Kalooki more accessible to help young people rediscover their independence and sense of possibility after cancer.

He said: "I've had to get used to an adapted way of moving around, which makes me very useful when it comes to designing an adaptive boat. I look to see if there are trip hazards, the need for grab rails, or access requirements, like if there is enough space for two people to get past or sit down. Anything that will reassure young people and make sure they have as much fun on trips as they possibly can."

Dame Ellen MacArthur described Kalooki as a 'game-changer' as her charity aims to support more young people than ever this summer.

She said: "It's a big day for us at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust as we welcome Kalooki into our fleet. It's wonderful for us to have boats in the water so we can take young people out and have adventures with them, and it makes a huge difference to have Kalooki. She's one of ours and she is a game-changer.

"I'd like to say a massive thank you to Jean-François Lair and all the team at Beneteau, and Nick Griffith and all the team at Ancasta. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you've done. It's amazing to have Kalooki in the fleet."

Kalooki becomes the third specially-adapted boat owned by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. In 2016 and 2017, Ancasta and Beneteau were instrumental in the charity acquiring two Beneteau Oceanis 45s - Solent Hero and Caledonian Hero - which sail from the charity's bases in East Cowes Marina, Isle of Wight, and Largs Yacht Haven, Scotland respectively. Kalooki joins Solent Hero in East Cowes, while the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust also owns the Gibsea 44, Moonspray, in Largs.

Kalooki has five cabins compared to the Heroes' four, significant for getting more young people on trips, with the cabins having a wooden divider to give young people more privacy, while also functioning as full-sized bunks for other uses too.

Her cockpit and saloon are also more spacious, meaning more room to move around and socialise, while extra handrails have been added throughout to help with mobility and steadiness. Like the Heroes', the transom - back of the boat - folds down so young people can simply step onboard, but Kalooki has bespoke handholds and seating as well, making it even easier to get on and off.

To help young people realise what they are capable of again after treatment, adaptations have been made to help sail the boat too. The two primary winches have been moved forwards so young people can more readily access them, while the boom is a little lower and she has a German mainsheet set-up so sails can be controlled from both sides of the boat, allowing young people to be more involved.

Nick Griffith, Ancasta Group Managing Director, said: "We're delighted to see Kalooki set sail, ready to help the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust reach even more young people. After facing so many challenges, these inspiring young individuals deserve the chance to reconnect with life, and themselves through sailing and outdoor adventures. Supporting this incredible mission is something that I, along with the entire team at Ancasta, feel deeply passionate about."

Jean-François Lair from Beneteau continued: "Beneteau is proud to support Ellen MacArthur's Cancer Trust. This is a long-term collaboration, which started nearly 10 years ago. What the charity is doing is remarkable. Also, Dame Ellen MacArthur is a very famous figure in France. So, when Nick Griffith from Ancasta proposed us to support the project, it was a very easy decision to make."

Young people will get to experience the benefits of Kalooki when the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's 2025 season gets under way in the last week of May. She will also be taking part in this summer's Round The Island Race. For more information visit www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or follow @EMCTrust across social.