Alan sold his Shadow (called Hot Mango) at the end of 2006. In the past he has sailed a Hobie 14 and 17 Turbo and a Spitfire (Paranormal) and an Inter 20 (Spinal Frontier). Living in the south of the Lake District, Alan mainly used to sail on Coniston with his crew Pete. He developed his skills out in Vassiliki, Greece, with Wildwind. Having been spoilt by so much top quality sailing in Greece, Alan never sails in The Lake District now.
photos G Jones
Alan has been lucky enough to take part in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 6th Sailing Marathon for People with a Disability in Greece. In the 3rd and 5th Marathon, Alan was lucky to have Darren Bundock (6 times Tornado World Champion and Olympic medallist) crewing for him on a Tornado Sport - pictured below.
photo P Makis: Al & Bundy in Greece
As Alan & Pete discovered in the 2002 International Marathon
for Disabled Sailors, the Spitfire is a fantastic catamaran. It particularly
reveled surfing down waves in Greece on a screaming three sail reach.
How does a
paraplegic manage to sail an unadapted catamaran?
Alan wears a trapeze harness and is then able to park his butt on the edge of the hull enabling him to fly a hull with the best of them.
photos P Makis: Al & Pete in Greece
How does he right from a capsize? Simple, he uses a righting frame.
NO WORRIES!
