Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2011 | Page 61

ON THE WATER

Natasha meets
her challenges
with a smile
Natasha Lambert is a shining example
of how someone can cope with a severe
disability and live life to the full.
Natasha, who recently turned 14,
has suffered with athetoid cerebral
palsy since birth. It is a condition that
severely affects her speech and prevents
smooth, co-ordinated movement of
her limbs. But she is not the sort to sit
around and feel sorry for herself.
With the help of those around her,
particularly dedicated parents
Gary and Amanda, Natasha
has mastered the art of sailing
in a boat specially adapted
for her, and enjoys the thrill
of going out on the waters
around Cowes, steering her
craft with all the expertise of
an able-bodied person.
Her courage, character and
determination simply know no
bounds. Because of her disability
Natasha steers her Artemis 20 boat
with a method known as ‘sip and
puff ’. She blows air down a tube to
turn the boat one way, and sucks air
up the tube to take it in the opposite
direction.
As she returned to the landing stage
at the UKSA in Cowes after another
enjoyable voyage, aided by sailing
instructor coach Charles Matthews
and carer Cherrell Catlow, with mum

and dad close by in the safety boat,
the smile on this courageous young
girl’s face was a joy to behold. It was
as if she wanted to tell the world that
nothing is going to prevent her from
doing exactly what she wants to do.
Gary said: “There is no sailing
background in the family, but we
were just looking for a sport or
hobby for Natasha – something she
could compete in rather than just be

of her sailing with them, but accepted
that because of her severe disabilities it
was a big ask – too much to ask for a
general club.”
Eventually Gary and Amanda
contacted the UKSA who held an
Even Keel project, which took disabled
people out sailing. So Natasha sailed
with Even Keel as a passenger for
around two years, but always with the
ultimate aim to be able to participate.
After Natasha competed in
the Even Keel Challenge at
Cowes Week last year, Gary
realised that if he was to help
fulfil his daughter’s dreams,
a boat would have to be
specially adapted for her. He
explained: “In the Even Keel
challenge, she was sitting in
the bottom of the boat, and when it
keeled over 6