New boat, new beginnings

The Ellen MacArthur Trust’s new Beneteau Oceanis 46.1, Kalooki, has been making life-changing waves since its launch earlier this year.

“If there wasn’t Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust support, I would still be navigating life and trying to work out how to accept it.”

When young people living through and beyond cancer take part in an Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust adventure, the sailing is just the vehicle. But it is the perfect vehicle to bring them together, make connections, reimagine what they can achieve after the trauma of cancer, and to set themselves up for a future that felt so out of reach.

And it helps when the boat they are on is specifically designed to ensure they are able to accomplish those things. That’s why Kalooki has been, to use Dame Ellen MacArthur’s words, such a ‘game-changer’.

It has been a summer to remember aboard the charity’s newest yacht, on which countless young lives have been transformed. Since being launched in March, Kalooki has sailed from the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s base on the Isle of Wight, including her first outing in the iconic Round the Island Race.

Working in partnership with Ancasta Group and Beneteau, the charity welcomed Kalooki thanks to the generosity of a gentleman who was an ardent sailor and enthusiastically supported the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust over many years.

Mentally and physically better

One young person who sailed on Kalooki is 17-year-old Phoebe from Hastings. In 2015, she was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour, a type of kidney cancer, and had her right kidney removed.

She says her cancer impacts her more now, as she still has check-ups once a year. She can’t remember much of her treatment from when she was younger, but she can remember these regular appointments and the anxieties they bring. She said:

“Even though you’ve got the all-clear, it still affects you. It always will, no matter how old you are or how long you’ve been in remission. The worry is always in the back of your mind. It’s okay to not be okay and sometimes it’s okay to have days where you’re really struggling with the fact you had cancer.

“It’s so important there is support after treatment because you go through a lot of confidence issues. Most people on an Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust trip won’t have someone back home who has experienced the same thing. So just being able to come together makes you feel so much better about yourself, mentally and physically, because you don’t feel alone. If there wasn’t this support, I would still be navigating life and trying to work out how to accept it.

“I really enjoy being able to sit up on front of the boat while we’re on the water, just rocking up and down. I think it’s so relaxing. And it feels like a privilege to sail on Kalooki!”

More opportunity

Everything about Kalooki is designed so young people feel they belong on board and can get the most out of their time sailing on her. She has five cabins, meaning more young people can join transformational trips. The cockpit and saloon have more space, so it is easier to move around and socialise, and there are extra handrails throughout for mobility and steadiness. The primary winches have been moved forwards to be more accessible, allowing young people to be more involved.

Jeremy Morris, the charity’s Operations Manager South, explained:

“Kalooki has provided us with a level of flexibility we have not been able to offer in the south until now. Having the fifth cabin allows us to offer more spaces to more young people, increasing the capacity of our trips, while also providing more space on board for prayer or any young person who may need their own space.”

When Ammarah was 17, she joined her first sailing adventure with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, after undergoing treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma two years earlier. Now 23 she volunteers for the charity, and this year saw her take on the role of Mate on Kalooki.

Ammarah, who is from Walsall, says she has developed more self-belief, got out of her comfort zone, and become more comfortable socialising with new people through sailing with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

She was excited to get her first taste of Kalooki:

“Oh it’s really good. When you’ve got the sails up, you’re going faster than all the other boats! There’s more room on board, lots of cabin space, which is helpful. What’s really useful is that everything is closer to the cockpit. The skipper and the crew can watch more easily while young people are tying knots and winching.”

The sun is setting on another summer of life-changing adventures. Almost 700 young people from all across the UK who were looking for somewhere to turn after cancer found their people. Whether they were on Kalooki or anywhere else with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, they are finding their footing and are more prepared for the start of their next chapter.

Support the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that takes young people aged 8-24 living through and beyond cancer on sailing and outdoor adventure trips to inspire them to believe in a brighter future. In 2024, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust supported 671 young people – the most since it was founded in 2003.

Young people living through and beyond cancer need somewhere to turn, and the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has to be there for them. You can be the reason a young person feels inspired to believe in their brighter future. Please show your support at ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org.