Can sailing be a sport for amputees? Fritz, an experienced sailor, amputee, boat owner, and certified Yachtmaster Offshore, has a refreshingly honest answer: It depends. In this guest post, he takes us from the challenges of capsizing dinghies to the freedom of keelboat sailing, sharing practical advice for a safe and enjoyable first trip on the water. Along the way, he reminds us that with the right boat, the right conditions, and a bit of confidence, sailing can open up a whole new world — quite literally.

As so often, the answer is a firm “Well, it depends!”. There are countless ways to go sailing: It starts with dinghy sailing, continues with relaxed bay-hopping, then cruising, regatta sailing, and even sailing expeditions.

My name is Fritz, I am an amputee and I love to sail - often enough that owning my own boat makes sense. My sailing trips have taken me, among other places, to the Arctic and across the Atlantic, and I hold the Royal Yachting Association’s Yachtmaster Offshore certification.

For many people, the first encounter with sailing is in a dinghy. These small, simple boats with modest sail areas practically invite you to give them a try. But there’s a catch: Dinghies can and will capsize, leaving you swimming next to an overturned boat. The first task is to right the boat, and then somehow get yourself back on board. With an amputation, that can quickly become a real challenge, and I tend to advise against starting there.

Things look very different with a keelboat. As long as you sail it within the conditions it was designed for, there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying a small - or even a longer - trip. The best way to get on such a boat is through a sailing club. Some are casual, some a bit more posh, but don’t worry: Sailors are generally a very sociable bunch.

Your first day on the water is ideally a sunny, warm day with steady light winds. Depending on the length of the trip, you bring suitable clothing and a pair of sneakers with clean soles. Boat owners usually don’t appreciate deck scratches from street shoes, and they’ll be grateful for your consideration. If you’ve been invited aboard, the skipper will give a safety briefing before heading out. You’ll learn where you can safely hold on and where you shouldn’t, you’ll get your PFD (personal flotation device), you’ll be shown the key controls on the boat, and you’ll hear what your role on board will be. This is the moment to mention any personal needs: As a below-knee amputee, I explain that I move more slowly on board to stay safe, and that I’m not the ideal person to wrestle a wildly flapping sail on a pitching foredeck.

Don’t worry: There’s still plenty to do on a sailboat. Someone needs to steer the boat, someone needs to handle the sails, someone needs to keep an eye on the surroundings. In the galley, everyone is welcome to help prepare a coffee break. And if none of that appeals to you, you can simply enjoy the ride: A sailboat leaning into the wind with a rushing bow wave is an incredibly captivating experience. You hear only the wind and the water, and few people can resist the elegance of it all.

So for a first sailing experience, I’d recommend spending about half a day on a keelboat close to shore. And if the spark catches, then the whole world - quite literally - opens up even for an amputee. Just look at Craig Wood from the UK: He became the first triple amputee to cross the Pacific alone on a 90day voyage. He would probably just smile gently at the question of whether sailing is a sport for amputees.

Having sailed both before and after my amputation, I can sum up the biggest changes for myself like this: First, the mentioned stability on board. The wilder the boat’s motion, the slower I move. Getting on board can sometimes be a bit more challenging, but so far I’ve managed every boat without major issues. And swimming from the boat requires some thought - not every swim ladder is equally suitable. Otherwise, I see myself in the proud tradition of onelegged pirates and Captain Ahab.

By the way: If anyone is now tempted to give it a try, come and join us. We’ll be sailing in Canada in the second half of July and in August, exploring the St. Lawrence River, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. If you’re amputated, curious, happen to be nearby, and have some time:  Send me a message (via Active Amputee). Maybe you’d like to join us for a bit of sailing.