We are in regular contact with families and others in the Greater Houston/Galvestonarea who provide medical, rehabilitation, or educational services to those of special needs. Individual families also sign up for sailing excursions using the Registration link on this website. We then coordinate a cruising schedule with members of our Sailing Angels team. Sailing adventures depart from our berth in the Kemah area.
The Adventure
The cruise, conducted throughout the year during daytime on weekdays & weekends, is about two and a half hours long. The special individual must be accompanied by his/her parent(s) or care giver and, if below 13 years old, must be willing to wear a life preserver. Basically, the first half hour is a ‘getting to know you’ time during which we discuss things about the boat as well as safety items. When we leave the dock, thespecial one(s) helps steer the boat as we motor out to open water.
If on a sailboat, with the captain’s help they raise the sails. Also taught: knot-tying, navigation and piloting the vessel along the way. The special ones and Captain working together, then begin to steer the boat. While at the helm steering the boat, they are told that he/she is then the Captain (i.e. “the boss”) and, therefore, gets to wear my Captain’s hat. At the conclusion, the special individual (our new ‘captain’) is awarded a special Sailing Angels wristband as well as a large medallion on a ribbon which can be draped around his/her neck, similar to an Olympic medal.
Most of our vessels are very large: 35 – 45 feet long; for very large groups, we rent large pontoon boats which can accommodate up to 75 people.
Our team has provided this free service to more than 25,000 participants and we are extremely proud to note that we have a perfect (100%) Safety Record.