For the first time, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust now has a yacht based in Scotland. It will operate out of the charity’s newest base in Largs, which opened in 2013.

The trust received £200,000 from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery to invest into a yacht in January.

It is hoped the new vessel will allow the trust to better support young people from the North of England and Scotland with mobility issues resulting from their cancer treatment.

The Largs base is now in its third summer of operations. However, so far the trips have been run using chartered vessels which has limited the trust’s flexibility. It also has an ongoing cost.

“This new yacht will allow us to provide a better experience for our young people with mobility issues from Northern England and Scotland,” explained the chief executive of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Frank Fletcher.

“It will also make operations more cost efficient as the number of vessels needing to be chartered will be reduced,” he stated.

Since 2013, the players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised £750,000 for the trust. Following advice from yacht brokers, Ancasta, the trust has selected a Beneteau Oceanis 45.

This was due to specific design features of this yacht such as a stern which lowers to pontoon level.