I'm interested in taking part.
Understand the provisional pilot, practical arrangements and what happens before anyone is offered a place.
Supported sailing for people with IBD
A planned sailing pilot for adults with IBD.
Freedom Under Sail CIC is planning small-group sailing days for adults with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. No experience is needed.
England's South Coast
01 Initial focus on Crohn's & colitis
02 Small, supportive groups
03 Choose how you take part
Understanding IBD
How IBD affects daily life.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are lifelong conditions. Pain, urgency, bleeding and fatigue can affect confidence, work and everyday freedom.
1 in 123people in the UK live with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis — more than 500,000 people.
Understand IBD and why this matters Current position
Planning the first supported sailing pilot.
Bookings are not open. We are preparing the vessel and pilot while welcoming participant, funder and partner enquiries.
- Bookings
- Not open yet
- Planned area
- England's South Coast
- Current stage
- Preparation and fundraising
- Enquiries
- Participant, partner and funder enquiries open
Participant route
I'm considering supporting the pilot.
Review the staged funding plan, readiness controls and route to the controlled evidence pack.
Our purpose
Programme purpose.
Freedom Under Sail aims to support adults living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and other long-term conditions through sailing and community participation.
The first planned pilot focuses on adults with Crohn's or colitis. Wider participation would follow consultation, pilot evaluation, suitability checks and appropriate funding.
Participants can take a practical role, observe or rest. The aim is to build confidence and connection through a shared day on the water.
The programme will complement existing wellbeing support. It is not medical treatment or a sailing qualification.
How it works
Planned sailing-day format.
Qualified skippers and crew will lead each day. Participants can join in at their own pace.
Prepare
Meet the crew, discuss the plan and complete a clear safety briefing.
Know what to expectTake part
Steer, handle a sail, help navigate, observe or rest without pressure.
Choose your roleReview
Return to harbour and share feedback to help improve the pilot.
Learn before expandingFinal dates, session length and operating limits will be published before bookings open.
Take part
Who the first pilot is for.
The planned pilot is for adults aged 18 or over with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Bookings are not open.
No experience needed
Previous sailing experience will not be required.
Support discussed first
We will discuss access, health and practical needs before offering a place.
Subject to safe conditions
Every sailing day will depend on weather, vessel readiness and operating limits.
Costs confirmed before launch
We are seeking funding for subsidised places. Any charge will be published before bookings open.
Current status
Preparing the vessel, partnerships and first pilot.Living with IBD on board
Planning around IBD.
We understand that fatigue, urgency, pain and other symptoms can change without warning.
Private toilet
Suerte has a private onboard toilet and washbasin. We will explain access and the realities of using it at sea.
Rest or step back
Participants can observe, rest or sit out an activity without pressure.
Plan confidentially
We will discuss access needs, food, medication storage, fatigue and mobility before confirming a place.
Clear about the limits.
A yacht has real limits, so the programme may not suit everyone. Each decision will be individual and safety-led.
Read the detailed participant guide
Suerte · Victoria 38
The programme vessel
Meet Suerte.
A capable 38-foot offshore cruising yacht being prepared for supported small-group sailing.
- Design
- Victoria 38
- Operating area
- South Coast
- Planned pilot capacity
- Up to 6 people aboard, including the skipper and supporting crew; up to 4 participants. Final capacity remains subject to MCA coding and Certifying Authority approval.
- Coding target
- MCA Category 4
Delivery will start only after coding, insurance, qualified skipper arrangements and the required safety work are complete.
Victoria design and service history
Suerte is a Victoria 38 from Chuck Paine’s British range of offshore cruising yachts. The related Victoria 34 has served as a Joint Services Sail Training Craft at Hornet, Gosport.
JSASTC supplied Victoria 34s for the 2024 Army Offshore Regatta. Two remained listed as Sail Training Craft in 2025, and JSASTC continues sail training at Hornet in 2026.
Suerte is not a naval training yacht, but this record supports the Victoria family’s sail-training pedigree. Her 38-foot layout also gives FUS useful space for small supported crews.
Evidence: REME Sailing Club, 2024 · Army sailing ratings, 2025 · Hornet / JSASTC, 2026
Founder and director Henry Saunders aboard Suerte
Meet the founder
Founder and relevant experience.
Henry Saunders founded FUS after living with ulcerative colitis for more than twenty years. His firsthand experience of managing IBD while sailing shapes the programme’s design.
His experience includes offshore and solo sailing, engineering, risk management and safety-critical work. FUS is still planning and fundraising; sailing has not begun.
Our first season
First-season pilot scope.
The initial season will test a small, supported delivery model before any expansion.
The public funding and governance summary explains the proposed request, delivery controls and first-season measures.
For funders
£50,000 programme budget.
The £50,000 is a planned three-stage budget. The funding summary shows current submitted requests, accepted funding and the remaining gap. An application is not an award.
View funding & governance
See the planned costs, current funding position and delivery requirements.
For a concise introduction
Start with the one-page funder overview, then use the detailed funding summary for current application status and budgets.
Open the one-page funder overviewBuild the first season with us
Current partnership requirements.
Referral partners
IBD organisations, healthcare teams and community groups to help shape eligibility, referrals and participant support.
Funders
Trusts, foundations and community funders able to support setup, subsidised places and evaluation.
Marine & corporate partners
Organisations able to provide funding or in-kind support for equipment, safety, training and marine services.
Partnership enquiries are open for referral, funding, sponsorship and marine support.
Contact Freedom Under SailCommunity · Wellbeing · Practical experience
Planned community and media activity.
FUS is planning practical content about life with IBD and other long-term conditions, sailing, food aboard and honest product reviews.
In development — subject to funding and safe delivery.