Helping People with Disabilities Enjoy Sailing

Within the Eastern Region there are 16 Sailability Foundation sites ranging from large, independent groups to small groups incorporated into sailing clubs. Methods of operating vary from daily sessions at some, to just one morning a week at others.

Most groups are run by volunteers who facilitate sailing in whatever way they can. They are the “sailing buddies”, fund raisers and working parties. The Rotary Clubs of Great Britain have taken a special interest in the sport and we are indebted to them for providing both volunteers and craft.

Training is an important element in group structure and RYA Sailability will assist with sessions in Disability Awareness, First Aid and Special Needs Manual Handling as well as gaining sailing qualifications.

A Bronze, Silver and Gold Certificate scheme, adapted from the RYA Dinghy Sailing programme, enables sailors to achieve recognition of their progress at all levels at their own pace.

This season our region will host;

• the Blind Sailing Nationals for the second time on the River Orwell,
• a Special Olympics Regatta at Alton Water,
• the new East Coast 50 event,

and will continue to provide a growing number of sailing opportunities for people of all ages in the region.

Sailability News

Olympic-style regatta for people with learning difficulties.

A series of four regattas is being organised around the country this year. They are specifically for people with learning disabilities and are loosely based on the American developed Special Olympics. The Eastern Region is hold one of the regattas on 11th September at Alton Water. RYA Sailability has supplied support funding.

The classes will cover two age groups 8 – 18 and 19+. Each age group will sail in three classes, solo in Access 2.3, sailor and buddy in Access 3.03 and sailing pair in Access 3.03

The boats will be provided by the organizing body, The Woolverstone Project, as will be refreshments. Debbie Blatchford, Sailability Manager, is providing "goody bags" for all entrants and prizes for the winners. There will be a nominal entry fee of £5.00 to show commitment to attend. There may be funding to assist with travelling costs.

Peter Hibberd, RYA Sailability Organiser RYA East said: "I am asking for help to identify likely contenders and sailing centres to promote racing skills to prepare them for this potentially exciting and rewarding event.

"Extra training for volunteers and buddies can be looked into and I shall be happy to visit centres and talk things over. I hope that this event will provide a fitting culmination to the season's hard work and effort made by all of us working in the Sailability field."

For further information contact Peter Hibberd, RYA Sailability Organiser, RYA East  further details can be found >>>flyer

 

 

 

A Popular Attraction was the Sailability Marina at this year’s RYA Volvo Dinghy Show provided visitors with the opportunity to see a wide range of different boats designed for disabled sailors at close quarters. They were able to speak to representatives from the various class associations to find out about the boats, what would suit them best and what boats would be good to progress to in the future.>>>more