As the new boating season approaches, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has officially welcomed a new addition to its South Coast fleet – Kalooki. The brand-new, specially adapted 46ft sailing boat will be based at East Cowes Marina on the Isle of Wight.
Kalooki is the fourth boat currently owned by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, alongside Solent Hero, Caledonian Hero and Moonspray, the latter two of which sail from the charity’s base in Largs on Scotland’s west coast.
Supporting the charity’s work with young people who are living through and beyond cancer, Kalooki will make her debut trip from 27 May as part of a five-day South Coast cruising adventure for young people aged under 18.
Dame Ellen MacArthur describes Kalooki as a ‘game-changer’ as her charity aims to support more young people than ever this summer.
During the official launch ceremony last month she said: “It is a big day for us at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust as we welcome Kalooki into our fleet. It is 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 is one of ours and she is a game-changer.
“I would 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 have done. It is amazing to have Kalooki in the fleet.”
Prior to her launch, Kalooki underwent a series of specialist modifications over the winter at Ancasta Yacht Services. These adaptations are designed to make the yacht more accessible for all, ensuring as many young people as possible can fully participate in the charity’s transformational on-the-water experiences.
New Features
In terms of space, one of Kalooki’s standout features is having five cabins compared to the four on the other yachts owned or chartered by the charity.
This additional space allows even more young people to embark on these confidence-boosting adventures, providing more opportunities for them to connect with others who have faced similar challenges to help them feel less isolated.
The cockpit and saloon, the heart of the yacht’s social areas, have been expanded to provide more room for the young people to move easily and interact, while additional handrails have been added throughout to offer extra help with mobility and stability.
Privacy has also been prioritised, with adaptable front sleeping cabins featuring removable wooden dividers, providing flexible options for sleeping arrangements and maximising the use of space.
At the stern, the fold-down transom and removable custom seating, complete with additional handholds, make boarding and disembarking smoother for those with limited mobility.
For hands-on sailing, Kalooki has been adapted with young participants in mind. The boom has been lowered slightly to make sail-handling more manageable, and winches have been repositioned for ease of use – ensuring everyone, regardless of age, experience or physical ability, gets the most from the thrill being on a boat.
Expert Insight from Experience
To fine-tune Kalooki’s accessibility, the charity enlisted the expertise of volunteer George Paxford, who was first supported by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust in 2009. In 2018, George had an above-knee amputation following a recurrence of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. His firsthand experience made him an invaluable consultant in the adaptation process.
“I have had to get used to an adapted way of moving around, which makes me very useful when it comes to designing an adaptive boat,” explains George. “I was able to advise on where we might want handrails and ways of making sure Kalooki is accessible, so young people have a fantastic time like I did all the way back on my first trip.
“I looked 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.
“The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has come a long way from the early years of making do. We are now able to adapt things so trips are more accessible to more people.”
George, now 28, will return again as an Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust volunteer in 2025, joining a five-day sailing trip from the Isle of Wight.
Support and Generosity
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.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust worked in partnership with Ancasta Group, Europe’s largest yacht broker, and boatbuilders Beneteau, to bring Kalooki to the water. This donation enables the charity to extend its reach, giving more young people aged 8 – 24 the chance to rediscover their independence and what they are capable of to believe in a brighter future after the trauma of cancer.
Frank Fletcher, CEO, says: “Today, 12 young people will hear they have cancer. Thankfully, the majority will finish treatment and be told they can get back to ‘normal’. But many of them will not know what ‘normal’ is anymore, life around them has moved on and the future can feel daunting and overwhelming.
“That is where we come in. We must be ready for those 12 young people. And the 12 diagnosed tomorrow. And the 12 every day after that. But right now, we can only support 1 in 10 of the young people who need us.
“We need your help to reach and be able to inspire more young people to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer.”
For many young people, cancer puts their lives on hold at a time when they should be exploring, growing and embracing new experiences. The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust gives them the chance to reconnect with the world through sailing and outdoor adventures, restoring the hope, joy and sense of possibility that cancer often takes away.
You can help bring brighter futures to more young people by donating to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust via ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or this QR code.
