All autistic crew on a Swan 431 take on the challenge of the 2019 Fastnet race

By: Lottie Harland, Skipper and Founder of the charity Ausome

I have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I’ve had it since birth and I will have for the rest of my life. People on the autistic spectrum often suffer from social exclusion as they struggle to understand and process many of innate understandings of communication and social interactions of the world that others take for granted. However, many of us also have strong passions and interests that drive us to achieve what some might say is impossible.

Sailing changed my life

My passion is sailing, and it was sailing that changed my life. I am now 22 years old but had a very difficult childhood having been subject to bullying and intimidation in school and then excluded on numerous occasions for trying to fight back. I had to move schools several times in an attempt to make fresh starts. However, I started sailing dinghies at the age of nine at my local Burghfield Sailing Club and found that the sailing community was much more accepting of my autism than at school. This helped to rebuild my confidence and self-esteem that was being knocked out of me by the constant bullying in school, and I quickly started seeing success as I developed through the RYA squad system, representing my country at international events, before transitioning to racing on yachts. It was these positive experiences gained in the sailing world that helped me develop the life and social skills to become an independent and successful young adult, and I graduated last year from university with an engineering degree alongside gaining my RYA Offshore Yachtmaster.

The difficulties starting in sailing for those with an ASD

I have always wanted to help other autistic people experience the benefits and joys of sailing. Autistic people can struggle to get into sailing on their own because new places and situations can cause immense anxiety, therefore participating in regular courses at a sailing school with people they don’t know and instructors who may not be aware of autism can be completely unfeasible. Other sailing charities set up to help people with disabilities are also not the right environment for these autistic people, for example they can be noisy with non-verbal sailors trying to communicate or the boats used are generally not appropriate for someone who has no physical disabilities. I started the idea of Ausome a few years ago to bridge this gap in services for those autistic people looking to experience sailing for the first time or to further their skills. I also wanted a goal to build this around and set my sights on undertaking a ‘Fastnet’ campaign with an all autistic crew as a foundation to help launch the charity.

The turning point in our ‘Fastnet’ campaign

Racing on the yacht Lyra of London, a Nautor Swan 431 based in Burnham-on-Crouch, with its owner Miles Delap proved a real turning point. Miles’ own son is on the autistic spectrum and Miles made the generous offer of the use of his yacht to our charity Ausome so that we could fulfil my ambition of entering an all autistic crew for the challenging 608 nautical mile 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race.

Our autistic crew

In addition to myself as skipper, we now have the core crew comprising of Alex Ahmann, a trustee of Ausome and originally from California, USA but currently studying at university in the UK and with experience on tall ships and yachts and who was diagnosed with autism just before coming to the UK; Max Delap who was diagnosed with autism at an early age, has just started university and sails regularly on Lyra; Michael Sanchirico from the Michigan, USA and who sails on the Great Lakes with Set Sail for Autism; and finally George Beevor, an experienced sailor having raced inshore and offshore on his own yachts, including an Impala 28 and a Sagitta 35. George is not diagnosed but is one of the three trustees of the charity.

We do need more autistic sailors to build on this core crew and would welcome being contacted by those with a diagnosed autistic spectrum disorder who would be interested in sailing with us. We are currently running a programme to select and train autistic people, both sailors and non-sailors, who will compete in the qualifying offshore races over the coming months before the final crew selection takes place for the ‘Fastnet’ itself in August.

Raising funds and the future

Sailing can give such a positive experience along with many life skills to autistic people but of course is expensive and so we can only complete the race with donations from the public and sponsorship from companies. Since launching the campaign, I have been overwhelmed by the generosity we have received. In addition to Miles Delap loaning his Swan 431 to the charity for the race, the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association (EAORA) has selected Ausome as its nominated charity and has donated funds raised at its annual dinner and we have received other generous donations from individuals and organisations, including Forensic Healthcare Services Ltd. We are now in sight of our campaign goals and hope that over the next few months we will indeed raise the money we need to set sail on this Ausome challenge.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there. Once we have completed the ‘Fastnet’ campaign we will be working on delivering further sailing opportunities through Ausome to benefit the autistic community. We will post news from the ‘Fastnet’ campaign as it unfolds on our website www.ausome.org.uk and details of further challenges once this campaign is completed.

We need to raise a further £10,000 to be able to support the campaign, and more if we are to create a lasting programme following the ‘Fastnet’. Donations to the campaign can made through the website or directly at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LottieHarland

Ausome is Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1179568

Notes:

Ausome (www.ausome.org.uk) is a registered charity promoting the personal and social growth of individuals of any age who have Autism Spectrum Conditions through an exciting programme of sailing. Founded by a group of enthusiastic sailors, some of whom are on the autistic spectrum themselves, they have all seen or experienced the tremendous benefits that sailing can deliver to those with autism spectrum conditions, at times truly transforming lives.

Everyone with an autistic spectrum condition is unique and different but if they have the desire to try something new, then sailing with Ausome is one of the most enjoyable, immersive and fun ways to:

• Improve confidence whilst exploring and learning new skills.

• Be part of team where everyone has an important role to play and respects each other’s contributions.

• Develop social skills and make new friends.

• Increase self-reliance in a structured, safe and friendly environment.

Ausome is a Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1179568

The Fastnet Race is a biennial offshore yacht race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Named after the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland which the race course rounds after setting off from Cowes, Isle of Wight and finishing 608 nautical miles later in Plymouth. The ‘Fastnet’ is generally considered one of the world’s classic offshore races, thoroughly testing the skills of crew and boat.

Photos (also attached for download):

Lottie Harland – Skipper and founder of Ausome

The Swan 431 Lyra of London that will be competing in the Ausome ‘Fastnet’ campaign

Lottie Harland (right) giving a new sailor with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder the chance to helm a yacht for the first time