Five fabulous days in Wales drive fundraising for Wetwheels Cymru 2026 launch
by Wetwheels Foundation 16 Apr 2025 14:22 UTC
Five fabulous days in Wales drive fundraising for Wetwheels Cymru 2026 launch © Wetwheels Foundation
Cardiff Bay was buzzing last week as the Wetwheels South West boat arrived for five incredible days of barrier-free boating, giving disabled people, their families, carers and friends the chance to experience the thrill of the open water. It also provided a powerful preview of what Wetwheels Foundation can bring to Wales.
Kindly hosted by Western Marinas at Cardiff Marina, the Wetwheels team took around 45 disabled people and their guests on high-speed, fully accessible powerboat experiences around Cardiff Bay—many for the very first time.
This week-long showcase was part of the campaign to launch Wetwheels Cymru, a new permanent boat and team based in Cardiff, hoping to launch in 2026. The project aims to bring the proven impact of Wetwheels' inclusive boating model to communities across Wales, offering disabled and disadvantaged individuals the freedom, joy and independence of time on the water.
"Wetwheels Cymru is about opening up the sea to everyone—regardless of ability," said Geoff Holt MBE DL, Founder of Wetwheels. "The response this week in Cardiff has been truly heartwarming. The support we've seen confirms that Wales is ready for its own Wetwheels boat."
One highlight was a special session with Reel Minds, a local organisation supporting mental health through angling. Participants joined the Wetwheels boat for a morning of fishing and connection in the peaceful waters of Cardiff Bay.
On Wednesday, 25 local businesses and potential stakeholders gathered at CoffiCo, Cardiff Marina for a special presentation hosted by Geoff Holt MBE, where they heard first-hand about the exciting plans to bring a new Wetwheels boat to Wales in 2026. This included the current fundraising target of £350,000 to make the project a reality - and with the JustGiving total now approaching £96,000 - an encouraging 27% of the goal has already been reached.
The impact of the week didn't go unnoticed - ITV Wales joined the team on board to capture the spirit of Wetwheels in action. The resulting broadcast gave thousands of viewers a glimpse of the project's potential and the transformative power of inclusive boating. You can watch the feature and all the fun here.
Wetwheels extends sincere thanks to Western Marinas for their generous hosting at Cardiff Marina and to all who took part, supported or shared the experience.
To find out more about Wetwheels Cymru and how you can support the campaign, please visit wetwheelsfoundation.org/wetwheels-cymru