'Meeting friends and getting chips afterwards is a big part of it': Father and son on joy of sailing

Life on the ocean wave can be calm and still or rough and rocky, but it is always beautiful.

Philip Murphy and his nine-year-old son Brendan enjoy great quality time together as part of Kinsale Yacht Club’s Sailability Class - a group of volunteers who promote the health and wellbeing of people with different abilities through water sports.

Brendan, in third class, is a wheelchair user.

“Every week from April to September, we watch the weather forecast and look forward to being out on the water,” says Philip.

Father and son have a lot in common. “Navigating, competing and messing about in boats is something Brendan and I love doing together.”

The skilled father and son team are part of the crew. “We work together, and we make decisions together,” says Philip, who is sailing for 20 years.

“The social side is very important too. Meeting friends, making plans, and getting fish and chips from Dino’s on the way home is a big part of it.”

Brendan is an all-rounder.

“He enjoys a wide variety of sports,” says his mum, Maeve. “He is part of the Rebel Wheelers which he really enjoys. And he really loves being on the water. It’s like an adventure!”

Sailing the seas, observing the ebb and flow of the water, sensing the freedom and feeling the wind in your face, offers a unique perspective on the world, its connection to nature, and the challenge the ocean provides.

Sailing together means this and much more to Philip and Brendan.

“I really enjoy the sense of accomplishment that we get from a great day sailing,” says Philip. “Especially being part of a group of determined sailors who are always willing to share knowledge and help each other in every way.”

Sailing with Sailability in Kinsale Yacht Club (KYC) is an inclusive sport, giving everybody access to the water.

“Having a disability can sometimes mean challenges and closed doors," says Brendan. 

“Families living with disability are resilient and resourceful. But it still hurts to have your child left out. Kinsale yacht club and Sailability are leaders in inclusivity and the way they support families.”

Sailability are on the right track.

“Their approach is a road map for every sports club,” says Philip.

Everyone gets to be part of the seafaring crew.

“A big part of this is including the whole family on adventures and training some of them as volunteers to support the activity.”

There’s always a lot going on at Sailability Kinsale.

“A highlight of the year is the exciting Kinsale Regatta,” says Philip. “The regatta includes Sailability in the competition.

“This is an example of true inclusivity, and it is heart-warming to see. It would be nice to see integrated sports at more sports clubs.”

Brendan, a true sportsman, loves the competitive element of Sailability challenges. He loves the teamwork and the decision-making.

“Last year, Brendan was fortunate enough to win the beautiful Charles Fort Cup in the Sailability class race, and we think about that day often.”

How did they celebrate the win?

“We had a great evening and dinner in the club with family and friends. What an occasion that was!”

A sailor needs to know his stuff on the ocean wave. “There is a lot of skill needed,” agrees Philip.

“Elements that have to be considered are the wind, the tide, the weather. We have to be familiar with all parts of the boat, including the safety equipment. Brendan started swimming recently which made him more confident on the water.”

He is a confident young man. And he is a determined. “It’s gas!” says Philip.

“Always, after a day out on the water, Brendan asks; ‘can we get fish and chips?’ He is determined we stop by Dino’s. Brendan loves his grub and is a right little gourmet.”

No doubt on Father’s Day, Sunday June 15, the family will visit it?

“For sure!” says Philip.

Life on the ocean wave offers many benefits.

“I work at a desk all week doing physics research,” says Philip. “And it is so good to get out on the water at the weekend and unwind with my son.”

The seafarers love their surroundings. “Kinsale harbour is beautiful,” says Philip. “It is even more beautiful from the water.”

There are often nice surprises lurking. “There is nothing like seeing a harbour seal pop up to greet you as you glide through the water on sail power,” says Philip.

“Being on the water also gives Brendan an awareness of the whole marine community who keep us safe, from the wonderful volunteers who man the safety boats to the RNLI.”

Philip and Brendan, side by side, carefree seafarers, have the best of all worlds.

“I love being out on the boats with Brendan,” says Philip. “We are a team. It is peaceful one moment and exciting and full of adventure the next. There are few things like it.”

Donal Hickey, chairperson of Sailability, is in the same boat as the Murphys.

“Sailability is a great club that includes people with mobility issues and wellness issues,” says Donal. “It is the most active club in Ireland.”

He is active in the club a long time.

“This is my 18th year,” says Donal. “I got into it by accident, and I’ve seen hundreds of people enjoy the benefits of Sailability. A person who may be keyed up or wound up, can arrive at the quayside down in the dumps. Once out in the water, they forget their troubles and their spirits are uplifted.

“The freedom of the water and the fresh air clear the cobwebs. It relaxes people.”

People go the distance to be included in Sailability.

“A man from Limerick drove down here for two years,” says Donal. “The water activities had a therapeutic effect on him.”

Variety is the spice of life.

“Every day is always different,” says Donal. “The weather is always different.”

Inclusivity stays the same.

“People often come just to enjoy a spin out on the water,” says Donal. “We can have between 50 and 60 people here on a Saturday.”

Competitors are keen sailors.

“They are all winners,” says Donal.

Was he always a seafaring man?

“I was brought up in West Cork in Roaring Water Bay,” says Donal. “You could almost touch the water from my house.”

Sailability could be called ‘Smilability?’

“The craic and the fun is mighty,” agrees Donal. “The discussions in the club house afterwards about who did what makes for a lot of smiles.”

The Kinsale Regatta 5 Mile, one of the largest five-mile road races in Ireland, starts at Kinsale’s GAA Club at 7.30pm on August Bank Holiday Friday, August 1.

This year’s charity partner is KYC Sailability Class.

The Kinsale Regatta 5 Mile is the opening event of a weekend of free, fun, family activities. Come for the race and stay for the craic.

Sailability Kinsale is a group of adapted sailors within Kinsale Yacht Club that sail, race, and meet up for social events on a regular basis from April-October.

The adapted boats on offer include Hansas, squibs and accessible powerboating.