Exploring Miles’ journey with Sailability

Miles is twelve years old—a bright, nature-loving boy from Rutland Sailability whose parents describe him as “a wonderful, very clever little man who loves his animals.” 

Like many young people navigating autism and anxiety, his world can be full of challenges. As his dad Jose explains “Miles… struggles still with social interaction… he's very nervous in new situations. He suffers from extreme anxiety, which can manifest in all sorts of physical ways.” 

Mainstream school wasn’t accessible for a long time, so Miles was home-schooled. The family were always searching for experiences that might give him confidence and joy—especially outdoors, where he feels most at home. 

“We came across Sailability by doing some research,” Jose says. “We saw a very old RYA video about autism and sailing.” They decided to try it. But the first steps took time. 

“In the beginning, we went every Thursday and the occasional Saturday for about two months before we were actually confident enough just to get on the jetty because it was moving and rocking,” Jose recalls. “And then Miles went on.” 

Miles remembers that day “I went on the longboat… with one of my parents.” 

“It was all of us,” Wendy, Miles’s mum adds. “We went out as a family.” 

That first sail was gentle, quiet, supported; they barely moved from their seats. “We sort of just sat and enjoyed the experience,” Miles says. “We were passengers,” Wendy adds. Jose reflects fondly on that day: “I suppose you could say we were bobbing with intent.” 

But that moment—small as it seemed—opened the door to something extraordinary. 

Over the next few months, Miles began exploring different boats. After several outings, he began going out with Jose, then on his own. “Five times roughly,” Miles says, “and then I think I went on to a 303.” The sensation of being on the water ignited something powerful in him. “Oh, now I love it when it's not really calm, when there's loads of wind,” he says. Jose adds, “You said you like the freedom.” Miles answers quietly: “Yeah…” 

That freedom became a turning point. Bit by bit, Miles’ confidence grew. He moved through all the Sailability schemes — “He’s achieved his platinum award,” Jose notes proudly—and began taking the Hansa 303 out alone. He learned the winds he likes: “When I'm on my own, I tend to like around 20 knots. I do like moderately high winds.” 

But progress wasn’t a straight line. Early in the season, two solo attempts went wrong. “I hadn’t prepared for all those little things that the skippers were doing… actually my boom came off,” Miles explains. Those moments shook him, and Wendy remembers how hard it was to rebuild his confidence. But then, she says, “It was like a light switch overnight. Your confidence was there… and you were loving it… and it all just fell into place.” 

And when it fell into place, everything changed. 

The biggest transformation didn’t happen on the water—it happened in the community around it. The family found themselves welcomed into a world of warmth, patience, and belonging. “Everyone was so welcoming,” Wendy says. “They have just taken Miles as part of the team.” Many of the sailors were long-standing members, adults who travelled together to events year after year. They embraced Miles immediately. “Already in just a couple of months, he sees them as friends,” she says. “It’s really, really lovely.” 

That sense of belonging opened doors the family had long believed were shut. Travel was once nearly impossible — “Just leaving the house is not something Miles does happily,” Jose says—but now they were visiting clubs around the country. “It was unheard of to go somewhere new,” Wendy explains, “but because the community were just so wonderful, we've now been able to travel with Miles for weekends.” 

They travelled to Birmingham, to Frensham Pond, staying overnight in places they’d never been. Something incredible happened: Miles began seeking out people. He went off to find his friends, running around freely—behaviours his parents had never seen outside the safety of Sailability. “What's happened to our son is transformational,” Jose says. 

Even in the wider Sailability world, kindness met them everywhere. They remember chatting with sailor Jazz Turner long before they knew who she was. “She came over and chatted,” Wendy recalls. “We just bumped into her… she spent a good half hour talking.” They talked not about sailing, but about assistance dogs. “It was all about Phoebe,” Jose laughs. “It had nothing to do with sailing.” 

Over two years, the volunteers at their home club watched Miles grow from a child who struggled to step onto the jetty to someone welcoming new sailors himself. “Miles was taking out some of the novices,” Wendy says. “These are huge, huge things that might look small but, in our world, they really aren't.” The volunteers’ gentle confidence in him mattered deeply. “There was never any sense of pressure,” Wendy says. “They just understood that Miles will get there when he gets there.” 

This year, at the end-of-season presentation, Miles was awarded the Saturday Sailor Rising to the Challenge Award—a moment both parents will never forget. Miles, who had always avoided ceremonies and struggled to collect certificates at school, quietly walked to the front to receive his cup. Afterwards, he moved around the room chatting to volunteers, something his parents say “just doesn't happen in other situations.” 

Today, Miles is thriving. “Last month I did my Power Boat Level 2,” he says—and is preparing for his Competent Crew course in April. He’s planning his next racing season too: “Next year I'm going to try doubles in the TT’s. I'm going to try single racing at club races.” He’s even talking about big international ambitions. “This time next year, the Europeans… where are they?” Jose asks. 

“Barcelona,” Miles replies. 

“Now that is unbelievable,” Jose says, still astonished. 

“It’s the fact that we're even discussing that,” Wendy adds. 

For families considering Sailability, Jose puts it simply, “Don't have any hesitation or reluctance… Just go and see. Don't feel that there are any preconceptions that you need to be a sailor or a salty dog or anything like that.” 

Because for Miles and his family, Sailability has been life-changing—sailing, yes, but also friendship, confidence, independence, and moments they once thought were impossible. 

For families who feel isolated, unsure, or hesitant, Wendy and Jose are clear: 
“They're able to accommodate anybody who has a desire. That's rare.” 

Jose mentions, “You know, you don't realise because it can be quite isolating”. The family had spent so much time advocating for Miles in systems not built for him that the constant fight became part of daily life. As Wendy says, “As a parent, you find that you spend a lot of your time fighting. Fighting for what's best for your child. Fighting to make sure that they've got what they need.” 

Wendy adds “It's just like you're being caught and held, and there are other people in exactly the same boat. Of course, they've not been on the same journey as you because every child is different, but they've been through the same battles as you. Sailability really has been just like a big warm cuddle.” 

“I don't think there's anything that could prevent you from being able to access Sailability because of the structure of it…” 

For a family who had spent years fighting, Sailability offered something different: safety, belonging, community, and hope. Now Miles is planning ahead, training others, and even competing. A boy who once found it difficult to leave the house is building a life full of independence and possibility. 

For Jose and Wendy, that message is clear and simple.  

“It is transformational.”