A life transformed: From single mum to Commodore and inclusive sailing champion

Laura Cowan never imagined that a search for quality time with her son would set her on a course towards a lifelong passion for sailing.

Now, as Commodore of Prestwick Sailing Club (SCIO) and an advocate for inclusivity in the sport, Laura’s journey has not only transformed her own life but has also helped shape the future of many young sailors.

Her dedication to creating opportunities for young people, women, and those with disabilities has earned Prestwick Sailing Club a nomination for RYA Club of the Year for Young People 2025, and she also works with the RYA as a Regional Development Officer, supporting wider sailing activity across the West regions of Scotland.

Finding a new direction

Laura’s journey into sailing began at a challenging time in her life. After her marriage ended, she found herself searching for a meaningful activity to share with her son, Jason. With a limited income, she explored various sports, starting with hill climbing. She even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raising £2000 for the school where she worked. However, an Achilles tendon injury forced her to look for a new adventure. That’s when a friend invited her to crew on a Sigma 33 during West Highland Yachting Week.

"I had never won a trophy in my life, and we had a winning streak that year, picking up lots of silverware, and I ended up in Yachts & Yachting magazine picking up a prize at Largs Regatta Week. There was no looking back after that – winning is a very powerful motivator.”

Building a future on the water

Jason soon joined her on the yacht racing circuit. But when a simple mistake — dropping a fender due to poor knot-tying — highlighted her need for proper training, they decided to join Prestwick Sailing Club. With finances tight, Laura prioritised Jason’s RYA training, while she taught herself by watching his instructors and borrowing a friend’s Laser to practise. To support the club, she also started volunteering in the galley.

“I worked in a school, so I was off the whole summer and had plenty of time. At lunchtimes, I would cook all the hungry instructors and kids burgers and chips, and pretty soon the committee were asking me to volunteer at regattas in the galley.”

Continuing to get involved, the Commodore at the time recognised Laura’s experience and skills, inviting her to take on a new role.

“She asked me to join the committee, so with my knowledge of special needs education and especially my interest in getting those young people more active, I took on the role of Sailability Lead at the club.”

Creating opportunities for all

Back in her workplace, Laura used some of the fundraised money to introduce young people to sailing and powerboating at Castle Semple Outdoor Centre. This led her to meet David Hill, who was working with RYA Scotland on Disability Inclusion. He provided guidance on linking with Active Schools in Ayrshire and introduced Laura to a Senior Instructor, Steve Noble, who was working at South Ayrshire Council.

Steve was keen to develop sailing opportunities and coaching pathways in the region and later took Jason and his friends under his wing, coaching them towards their Dinghy Instructor (DI) and Senior Instructor (SI) qualifications. With their growing expertise, the club began employing young people—many of them students—to run summer school programmes. These initially lasted a few weeks but eventually expanded to seven weeks in summer and four weeks of after-school sessions with local schools. With the support of Steve, the Active Schools team, and an 18-year-old Centre Principal, Cameron, these programmes flourished.

With more instructors trained in disability inclusion, it was a natural step to engage more disabled people in sailing. Laura and her team partnered with Active Schools and South Ayrshire Disability Sports to create a sailing programme for deaf children. As a qualified Level 3 BSL user, she played a key role in this initiative. They later expanded to support visually impaired adults and young people, with Laura applying her expertise as a qualified Communicator Guide (Deafblind Scotland Qualification). In the past year, the programme has welcomed a wide range of participants, including wheelchair users and neurodiverse sailors, for four-week Sailability courses.

Championing women and young sailors

Amidst her growing involvement with RYA Scotland — attending CPD training, hosting events, and even stepping in as club cleaner during Covid. Laura also played a key role in supporting the development of the Women on Water programme, which was delivered by Prestwick Sailing Club instructors alongside RYA Scotland Pioneer volunteer Sarah Green and her daughter Tess Crooks.

“Following Sarah's lead, in 2021, we ran a successful Women on the Water programme, and I passed my RYA Day Skipper qualification with Sunsail. We also secured an Andrew Simpson Foundation grant for a couple of Hartley 12.2 dinghies, which are the perfect size for ladies to sail.”

The new women and girl recruits quickly progressed into the Feva class, with one of their fathers taking on the role of class representative for Scotland. His efforts, combined with the support of the RYA Pathway Team and RYA Scotland’s Winter Academy programme, helped grow the confidence of these young sailors. As a result, seven girls from Prestwick Sailing Club were selected for the RYA Scotland Squad, alongside two young men training with them.

Recognition and transformation

The club’s dedication to youth development and inclusivity led to its nomination for RYA Club of the Year for Young People 2025.

Reflecting on her own journey, Laura says sailing has changed her life in ways she never imagined. She left her school job for a third-sector grant-funded project, then pursued a master’s degree in Communication and Deafblindness. Her thesis focused on a young Deafblind sailor who achieved Platinum level in Sailability and raced internationally.

“We worked together to race weekly in the club’s own race series and develop his communication and inclusion within the club’s own racing scene. On completion of the MSc, a post for RYA Scotland became available. I applied, and I was successful in being recruited for the job. I am now RDO for the West of Scotland.”

Laura’s message to anyone considering sailing is simple: “Sailing changed my life to be much better than I could have imagined when I was a single mother, offering so many choices of paths to take.

"At 57, I am living my best life,” she says.

“Who says you have to be young to chase your dreams?”