The annual newsmagazine of Sailability Issue 4 With contributions from state and territory Sailability Associations, their Sailability programs, 2015/2016 their members, the National Sailability Committee of Yachting Australia and Yachting Australia

Our story: Special Issue 21st Anniversary Sailability Australia:

Tom Dow, then and now, part of Sailability’s story . Reproduced . courtesyNewcastle Herald.

SAILING TO CELEBRATE: Hansa 2.3 turns 23

OVERCOMING DISABILITY: SA’s Ian Rick discovers Sailability, awarded for service PEACE CUP REGATTA : SKUD 18s debut in Hiroshima for Sailability Japan READY TO PARTY: Sailability NSW notches up 20 years of service to Guest helmsman’s Sailability’s year in pictures message Hansa 2.3 turns 23: party and regatta to celebrate Hansa Sailing Systems, Sailing for Everyone Foundation, Sailability Shoalhaven and Nowra Sailing Club. 40 sailors came from NSW, ACT, SA and Victoria. 30 Hansa 2.3s took to the water over the two days. Saturday evening, 80 guests enjoyed a ‘birthday party’ dinner. Hero of the evening was Hansa founder, Chris Spirited sailing competition, friendships Mitchell. He joined Jackie Kay for the renewed and side-splitting comedy was cutting of the birthday cake. Your Chairman, Neil Anderson, has kindly on the menu at the Hansa 2.3 23rd handed the tiller (or should that be Birthday Regatta and Dinner held in joystick?) to me on the occasion of September. Sailability Australia’s 21st anniversary so The venue was just a stone’s throw that I can pay tribute to this remarkable from Nowra NSW, where Hansa movement. Sailcraft are made. Sailability Australia and Yachting Australia The 2.3 was first produced in 1992, have a relationship that goes back 21 and currently there are 1000 2.3s years. In 1994, the State Yachting sailing in the world. The Regatta was Associations met and agreed to establish a run with the support of Sailability NSW, national committee that would help facilitate the building up of Sailability in this country. In the ensuing years the broader Sam’s the man for Sailability Sailability network has done a fantastic job Yachting Victoria's Sam Watson has of getting many thousands of people with a transitioned to the role of Inclusion disability out on the water. Manager. This has been made possible through the Sam will continue his focus on dedication, passion and commitment of the bringing new audiences to sailing as volunteers who give their time at the scores well as helping clubs to be even more of programs located throughout the inclusive. country. “I look forward to working very closely The leadership and support of this with our members clubs and especially committee and the underpinning State Victoria’s 24 Sailability programs”, says Sailability committees has also been ex- Sam, who took over the Sailability tremely valuable during this time. “portfolio” from Sarah Ogilvie who had Yachting Australia looks forward to been Sailability Coordinator since 2012. continuing to support Sailability and the wider club network in maximising the op- portunities for all people to be a part of the wonderful sport of sailing. Sailability Japan and SKUD 18 This could include participating on the Sailability Japan’s biggest mission this water, volunteering, administering, coach- year was for Sailability Hiroshima ing and leading the sport. to begin a sail training program with two On behalf of the Yachting Australia Board, SKUD 18s, imported from Australia with I congratulate Sailability and everyone support of Hansa Saiing Systems. involved on this milestone and thank all According to Nobi Nishii, President of those who have contributed to the growth Sailability Japan, the launch of the of this inspirational programme over the SKUDS in September was a great day. past two decades around the country. ”We also had our annual Peace Cup Enjoy the wonderful stories and articles Regatta. We are sad that sailing dropped contained in this edition of Freedom. from 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, but we look forward to developing competition.” Matt Carroll AM CEO Yachting Australia receives award Murray Bridge (SA) man Ian Rick, seen here with wife Rosie, has received the Jude Harris Encouragement Award from Sailability South Australia in recognition Freedom of his enormous contribution to sailing. Published December 2015 After years of overcoming his own disability from a sawmilling accident, Ian Editor, Copy, Design, Production, join Sailability South Australia and later Distribution, Graeme Adam the Goolwa Sailability Program. [email protected]. "We teach disabled people how to read the wind, the water, the clouds “Freedom” - The Newsmagazine - is published annually in print and electronic form. and we teach them what to look for .To “Freedom” updates published see the expressions on their faces when electronically. Distribution to all Sailability branches they become the skipper and we are the and through them all members, to yacht clubs via state yachting associations. crew is great." Picand info courtesy Valley Standard 2 Cover Tom Dow: part of Sailability’s story

It affects his fine and gross motor and despite wearing a life jacket skills, and his speech. nearly drowned on both occasions. Tom has been in a wheelchair since Did this dampen his enthusiasm? he was 5 years of age but this has not Not one little bit. Despite a temporary stopped him from living life to the full- hiatus to work out how to avoid Tom Dow’s love affair with sailing closely est. He loves a challenge. drowning while sailing, Tom has follows that of Sailability over the last two Tom started sailing when Kevin returned to the water with his usual decades. (Sailability was formed in 1994.) Buxton and Bert Reay were commitment. Tom, as a 10 year old, was first on the establishing Sailability at Belmont. He is now sailing a single 203 and water in 1996 (that’s Tom on the cover then, He sailed weekly with the Hunter doing quite well. His dad, Terry, and in the picture above, in October, still Orthopaedic School students and later promised him that they would sail enjoying himself!). competed in almost every regatta and together in a 303 in the next regatta. And his sailing family, Sailability at was a very fierce and determined All this would not be possible without Belmont 16 foot Sailing Club, near sailor. the Sailability Belmont volunteers. Newcastle NSW is still where he enjoys true Tom’s fearless approach to life and Other activities include three tandem “freedom on the water”. Tom has been a sport has meant that his sailing has sky-dives, snow skiing, wheelchair keen participant for almost 20 years. not been without incident. football, being a passenger in a V8 Tom, 29, suffers from Leigh’s Disease, a Father Terry remembers that Tom Supercar, a flying fox ride in the tree rare degenerative neurological disorder. has been thrown out of the boat twice tops and board surfing!

Courtesy Peter Muhlblock Our girls shine at Special Olympics Special Olympics Australia Sailability Crystal Bay’s Alyse Saxby (right) has again won a Gold medal in the Special Olympic World Games In Los Angeles in August. She teamed up with Melissa Nelson (left) from Sailability Port Stephens to win level 3 with on-board coach Chris Ruston (Qld All Australian competitors won medals. Level 5 requires a single athlete to sail alone and unassisted. The boat used for this was the 4.7. Australia blitzed this with Allister Peek (Gold) and Bronwyn Ponder( Silver) both from Sailability ACT, repeating their dominant effort from Greece 2011. Sonja Gilmore from Queensland achieved silver in division 2, level 1, with on-board unified partner, Greg Williams responsible for steering. Jacob Williams from Queensland achieved silver in level 3 division 2. with on-board unified partner, Ben Fitzpatrick responsible for sail trim. Special Olympics is an international movement promoting sport for people with intellectual disabilities. (Melissa and Alyse were finalists in YA Awards - see p 6)

Tracey Odiam new President Sailability WA Tracy Odiam became a paraplegic, after a motorbike accident several years ago. Tracy is the new President of Sailability WA. A friend brought Tracy in a wheelchair to the Sailability program to get her out of the house and she learnt to sail in the double 303 dinghies, progressing to owning her own Hansa single-handed racing dinghy. She has competed nationally and regularly competes in club racing at Royal Perth Yacht Club. Tracy has been active as a volunteer skipper and committee member and has now stepped up to the President’s position, taking over from Graham Martin who served in this position for several years. Tracy is a shining example of what Sailability programs can do to transform people’s lives.

Australian Sailing Team & support staff. Photo: Bernie Kaaks Gold, Silver, Bronze for Australian Sailing Team On the final day of the event, Australian Sailing’s Team of Paralympians Colin Harris (WA), (NSW) and Russell Boaden (WA) won the silver medal with only one point separating the team from the winning British crew. With this result they moved up one place from their bronze medal last year. Paralympian Matt Bugg (TAS) took home the bronze in another nail-biting final in the 2.4mR class, winning his first World Championship medal. 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists NSW’s Dan Fitzgibbon and defended their World Championship title after winning the 2015 Para Championships on the penultimate day with an unassailable lead. Then, they wrapped it all up with another win in the final race, completing a dom- Nine months out from the Rio 2016 inant series winning eight out of eleven races. This World Championship win Paralympic Games, the Australian Sailing completes an unbeaten run for Fitzgibbon and Tesch since 2012. Australian Team is looking strong after securing 3 med- Sailing Squad’s SKUD18 crew of Ame Barnbrook (NSW) and Brett Pearce als at the 2015 Para Worlds in Melbourne (28 (NSW) completed the regatta with a strong result of sixth overall, while 2.4mR November – 3 December) and winning the sailor Neil Patterson (TAS) finished in 25th. Nation’s Cup as the most successful country Australia already secured Rio 2016 country qualification for all three Paralympic 3 for the second time in a row. boat classes at last year’s Para World Sailing World Championships Happy 21st Birthday - History was made 21 years ago. In 1994, the Australian Yachting Federation (AYF, now Yachting Australia) and State/Territory Yachting Associations agreed to establish a national disabled sailing network. That year, the AYF formed Sailability Australia (now the National Sailability Committee, NSC). Subsequently, all Yachting Associations formed State/Territory Sailability Committees. These State/Territory committees were later replaced by incorporated associations.

In the early 1990s, Australians were inspired by the pioneering work of Sailability UK.. Subsequently, medical practitioner Dr Alan Rose founded Sailability Aus- tralia as a program of the Victorian Yachting Council. Quite independently, NSW scientist Dr Phil Vardy conceived the idea of disabled sailors contesting the Sydney-Hobart yacht race, which became Sailors with disAbilities (SWD). In 1994, the Australian Yachting Federation (AYF, now Yachting Australia) and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) convened a conference at VYC. The conference recommended that AYF establish Sailability Australia as a national committee, and that each Yachting Association (YA) establish a State/Territory Sailability Committee. Subsequently, Sailability Australia became the National Sailability Committee and State/Territory Sailability Committees were dissolved in favour of incorporated Sailability associations. Phil Vardy was appointed Chairman of Sailability and later National Sailability Coordinator. In order to undertake a 1996 Winston Churchill Fellowship, Vardy 2013: Sailability Australia National Conference, ACT ceded the chairmanship to Sailability Australia patron Kay Cottee AO. The Below: Four of Sailability Australia’s leaders: Dr Phil chairmanship subsequently passed to former AYF president Bruce Dickson AM Vardy, Kay Cottee, Bruce Dickson, Neil Anderson. and, in 2012, to former Sailability NSW president Neil Anderson. Phil later became Vice-President of the International Members of the National Sailability Committee are nominated by Yachting Association for Disabled Sailing. Associations. Two delegates co-opted by Yachting Australia. The committee meets at least once a year, facilitated by YA, providing the opportunity to exchange valuable ideas and experience, and to collaborate on useful initiatives such as the “Towards a National Approach” Report, the YA/ASC–supported National Sailability Conference, the Inclusive Club Standard (YVic), stronger Sailability presence on YA websites and an annual newsmagazine. There are now some 76 Sailability programs operating across Australia. According to Neil Anderson, the success is a combination of collaboration be- tween programs, and the efforts of hundreds of volunteers at local sailing clubs. “Thousands of Australian's have had the joy of experiencing ‘sailing for every- one’. But above all, what drives the Sailability family is the vision to make sailing truly inclusive, so every sailing club in Australia welcomes sailors of all abilities.” Resilient national, state and local Sailability network

Victoria: Created in 1991 showing them how to set up a 2015: 24 programs Sailability program and this is how I became involved. “So many people have contributed The first Sailability operation in Australia as office bearers and at the program actually preceded the creation of Sailability level – Murray Mitchelhill, Charles Australia by three years. Sailability Victoria , Marilyn Morley, Bruce was established by the Victorian Yachting James, Graeme Lyell, Keith Bolton. Council in 1991. “I took over from Donno for a while in By year 2000, Sailability Victoria had been 2000, stayed on as Secretary till 2010 incorporated as a not-for-profit charitable and then President in 2012.” organisation while continuing to operate as a 1996: 2.4mRs racing on Alfred Park Lake, Sailability Victoria’s story is marked committee of Yachting Victoria. Melbourne. Sailability Victoria had rooms and by its progressive and innovative a boatshed there At that time Yachting Victoria provided a approach. Long before the Australian part-time Sailability Coordinator and a Sports Commission was pushing to sailors of all ages, abilities and mobile unit of four Access (Hansa) Boats sailing clubs to make sailors with a backgrounds, enabling them to become and a safety RHIB supporting four Sailability disability more welcome, Sailability involved in sailing at their local sailing programs and delivering pilot programs at Victoria and Yachting Victoria were club.” other locations. collaborating to make the sport of “ , Executive Director of Sailability Victoria amalgamated with Sail- Campbell Rose sailing more inclusive. Victorian Yachting Council was the ing for Everyone in 2003, including an addi- The high level of cooperation and person responsible for bringing Sailability tional four programs. communication between Yachting According to Sailability Victoria President to Australia back in 1991. Victoria and Sailability Victoria has David Staley, “From this small beginning, “In the late nineties, Peter (Donno) we have now grown to 24 programs around Donaldson would go around sailing strengthened both organisations and the State, offering sailing experiences clubs with a trailer-load of Access boats driven a high level of activity.

Double Celebration! Sailability NSW also celebrates its 20th Anniversary. See page 7. 4 Happy 21st Birthday - Sailability Australia!

In March, 1986, seven enthusiastic SWA is distinguished by the way sailors met to form a Yachting SA - Sailability at RPYC has secured spon- Sailability sub-committee. sorships from major corporations, provid- Amongst them were Deidre and Bob ing world-class facilities and training. Schahinger, who are still SSA According to Tracey Odiam, SWA committee members.. President, “Over our 15 years, Sailability SSA trialled a Learn to Sail course for WA members have achieved success at nine people with an intellectual national and international level including disability on 32 foot yacht. Paralympics & world championships.” In 1996, SA’s first Access 2.3 “Dingo” “We have also benefited from the fact sailed “fan-forced” in an above-ground that RPYC has been generous in acting Queensland: started 1999 pool at Adelaide Boat Show. as mentor, helping other clubs set up 2015: 12 programs There was a big leap forward in 1998 sound Sailability programs. 2007: volunteers and sailors at with Adelaide Sailing Club and Port “SWA also has the advantage of having Sailability Gold Coast Adelaide Sailing Club taking on our own paid Sailability Coordinator, Ann Sailability and the inaugural meeting of Hodgkinson.” After some early experiments in the late Sailability SA Incorporated. 50s, involving two big-hearted medicos By 1999, there was a Sailability Drs Stratton and Sivyer and their Program running at Goolwa. In 2013, patients, Sailability Queensland first Sailability Murray Bridge started. sprang into life at Southport Yacht Club The first Sailability Regatta was held in 1997. at Port Adelaide Sailing Club in 2000 A legendary character, the late and the first Access Nationals were Wyn Treasure was the driving force. held in SA at Adelaide Sailing Club in Wyn, who later became president of 2007. AYF, established Sailability Gold Coast According to Sailability SA President, at the club. Wyn’s widow Marion John Johnston, who was appointed in recently arranged for the doctors see 2003, “Our greatest strengths are our the results of their early initiative. They volunteers, and the way we operate were amazed. out of established sailing clubs. Tasmania: started 1998 Sailability Qld was incorporated in “We are also proud of our high stand- 2015: Three programs August 1999 under the presidency of ards in both equipment and skills.” Since 2003, Sailability Tasmania volunteers Wyn with the support of Yachting Qld. have treated guests to a sail on a Payne 24 Sunshine Coast started, then Sailability Bayside and now there are 12! One early win was with Mission It started in 1998, with just one second- Employment to have the Work for the hand 2.3 Access, Sailability began in Dole scheme build the first two 7.5 m Tasmania in Launceston. A Yachting Salvo Yachts “Freedom” and “Spirit”. Tasmania Committee was set up and ST According to current President Moe was incorporated in April 1999 with Turaga, Sailability Queensland has programs in Hobart and Launceston. adopted a broad-brush approach, built In 2001, three Payne 24 yachts were on the reality that a huge percentage of built under a ‘Work for the Dole’ project folk with disabilities are much more sponsored by Mission Australia. Willing Sailability volunteers with boat building comfortable in a recreational setting. West Australia: started 2000 “Over our 16 years, we have experience provided guidance & training. encouraged many people to improve 2015: Three programs Sailability at Wynyard Yacht Club their quality of life and some to achieve 2004: Early example of accessible pontoon came on board in 2013. levels of activity and skills above and for Sailability, Royal Perth Yacht Club According to Sailability Tasmania beyond their own, and their carer’s and president Rod Viney, for a small state, their families, expectations. Tassie punches above it weight. Sailability WA officially began after the “Quite a few of our protégés have “Over 3000 people participate Gold Medal success of WA crew of gone on to win awards at local and through the year across three programs, Robins, Dunross and Martin at the international levels. To us, the using a combined fleet of 000 craft. Sydney 2000 Paralympics. volunteers, these are special rewards.“ “With Sailability, Derwent Sailing Royal Perth Yacht Club decided to Squadron conducted the inaugural develop a program for people with Hansa Class State Championship series disabilities to participate in all Club in March 2012. The National Hansa sailing activities, from trying sailing to Titles were held in Hobart in 2015. club racing and high performance com- “Sailability Tassie sailing activities are petitions. highly visible and attract regular media According to Graham White, one of attention. the original establishment group: “The majority of participants are drawn “Sailing for those with a disability is a from various disability support mainstream Club activity as evident in organisations and are taken out to enjoy the wardroom after racing when there a two hour sailing experience. are numerous wheelchairs, blind dogs “There are a number of people with South Australia: and other support equipment.” disabilities who have become members Since 2000, with the strong support of of Sailability and sail regularly, casually Started: 1998. Six programs Yachting WA, the network has grown or competitively.” 2003: Access 303’s at Sailability Goolwa to four major yacht clubs which run Regatta Sailing Club for state regatta Sailability programs, two in Perth and Sailability ACT, go to page 6 5 two in south-west WA. 2015 Sailor of the Year with a Disability goes to .. Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch News in have won the Yachting Australia award for Sailor of the Year with a Brief Disability for wins in the Skud 18. Other finalists were: Australian Hansa 2.3 Class Champion and Special Olympic World Summer Games gold SNSW 20th Anniversary Celebrations medallist in the Laser 4.7 Allister Peek; Sailability NSW turns 20 this year (see story and Special Olympic World Summer opposite). And this happy band of sailors Games gold medallists Alyse Saxby and volunteers will be celebrating their many and Melissa Nelson in the Level 3 Cal achievements with a double header event on 20; World Cup winner and silver medal- the weekend of 27-28 Feb. There will be a list in the International 2.4m class Matt Sailability NSW Presidents Cup and a Bugg; Paralympic Champs, World Cup Birthday Dinner. More details to come. Daniel and Liesel (seen here at the Melbourne 2015 winners and silver medallists in the Para Worlds). This the third award in their own right. Sonar , Jonathan Liesel is Patron of Sailability NSW. Harris and Russell Boaden. Shared history: Hansa and Sailability “A scientist and paraplegic, Dr Phil Vardy was there, saw the vi- sion and was appointed national Sailability chair and coordinator. “In those early years Sailability First INAS International Sailing Chps NSW (later other state Sailability This event, for sailors with an intellectual associations) had a very close rela- disability are being hosted by Docklands Yacht Club in Melbourne, 22-26 January tionship with Access/Hansa Sailing, 2016. Sailing will be on Melbourne’s a symbiotic relationship where we spectacular Victoria Harbour. 100 designed and built the boats and competitors from 6 nations are expected equipment of universal design which Four days of fleet races will be conducted in can be handled by everyone. three divisions, :Single person in Hansa 2.3 “Sailability created the universal class, Two person in the Hansa 303 class, environment, the clubs and Two person in Hansa 303 class programs which were open to any- www.docklands.yachting.org.au one, and encouraged independ- Friendship Games ence, equality, and competition. Strong friendships and ongoing exchanges 1997: Chris lends a hand at “Hansa Sailing is still on that path with Sailability groups in Japan have been a NSW Access Championships on and developing it further as the regular occurrence culminating in the Lake Chipping Norton, Sydney. Friendship Cup to be held at Lake “Shane the Brain in background. world realizes that the best we can offer disabled people is inclusion Tuggeranong on November 26 & 27 next and equality. And many main- year when it is expected around 32 stream sailing clubs are looking at Japanese sailors will visit. Sailability ACT will be hosted this unique event. Contact Terry. In 1994 Campbell Rose, then Executive ways to become more inclusive.” Director of the VYC (now Yachting Victoria) Hansa sailcraft are now sold in 32 chaired a conference to establish a national countries and are recognised as a Sailability movement. class by ISAF. In Australia, in the 76 A young Chris Mitchell was there by invita- Sailability programs, there are some tion to demonstrate the Pee Wee (later Ac- 800 Hansa craft in operation. cess, later Hansa) single and wide seat 2.3m They are truly ‘standard equipment’ dinghies. Chris recalls those heady days: across the Sailability network.

Happy Birthday, Sailability Australia - continued from page 5 Positive on ISAF and disability sailing Followed its first meeting of the reconstituted “Our sailors are regular and ISAF Disabled Sailing Committee in China in successful at competition, locally, November, committee member David Staley nationally and internationally. Aus- is optimistic about the committee’s work. (David is President, Sailability Victoria and tralian Hansa Class championships Victorian delegate to the National Sailability have been held in the ACT from Committee of YA.) “The preferred new name 1996 to 2003 and again in 2013. . is the Para World Sailing Committee “The club was central to the (PWSC). The meeting also noted an intent to adoption of sailing as an official not lose focus on the broader, non-elite sport by Special Olympics Australia. aspects of sport inclusion and participation.” And we have strong friendships with Sailability Japan.” (see next col). ACT: started 1998 Success has not come easily. 20i4: One program Early attempts at inclusion were. Pic: 2009, volunteers and sailors celebrate thwarted, it was only the help commissioning of the new pontoon of government and the Masons that brought breakthroughs including a new home at Lake Tuggeranong. Today, there are over 30 craft, lots Sailability ACT was formed on Feb 21 1998 of sailing and a bright future. Chris Tate takes on Sailability at YA as a single independent club and YA Chris Tate has taken over responsibility for Footnote: in 1998, Terry’s then Discover Sailing centre. Yachting Australia’s liaison with Sailability teenage son Allister (intellectual Chair Terry Peek OAM and Treasurer Australia. Chris is YA’s Education and disability) who, on seeing an Access Amber Stewart were on the founding Com- Training Coordinator and has been involved demo at Lake Ginenderra , said: mittee and have carried on to this day. with a not for profit organization for children “On Saturday, Dad, are we going with disabilities. He looks forward to working What makes SACT special? Terry explains: sailing?” The rest is history. with the National Sailability Committee. 6 A proud tradition, over two decades, of bringing the joy of sailing to everyone Started 1995. 2015: 27 programs

2007: the first SNSW conference, getting together to make Sailability NSW even better. In the crowd of volunteers and sailors at NSW Academy of Sport were John Price (top left rear) now NSW president, Grahme Rayner (red wheelchair), then NSW president, with Kelly-Anne Oriel to hid right and Sailability World secretary Jackie Kay to his left with Maria Dalmon, Wendy Evans and Lindsay Dalmon. SNSW legends Paul Tayler, Elizabeth Atkin, Allan Jones, Neil Anderson are behind Grahme. Dr Phil Vardy front, third from right. Hansa founder Chris Mitchell far left, your editor far right.

Sailability NSW originally started as a Other highlights: 10 year celebration committee of the NSW Yachting of SNSW at Rushcutters Bay in 2005, Association (now Yachting NSW) the first state and national titles staged chaired by businessman/yachtie/ in Canberra in 1996, Sailability wheelie wheelie Denis Critchley. Sailing Lindsay Dalmon being awarded YA’s commenced in early 1995 at Gosford. Disabled Sailor of the Year, launch of The word spread to Sydney. In May the 303 in ‘98 and Liberty in 2004. 1995, Phil Vardy, Neil Anderson, There was the first state conference in Paul Tayler and Chris Mitchell 2007. In 2011 Ame Barnbrook organised a ‘Come & Try’ day at received the Sir Roden Cutler Award Dobroyd. Jackie Kay brought a group for outstanding sporting ability. from her work at Weemelah (North But, according to John Price, Ryde Rehabilitation centre). current President of Sailability NSW, On December 21, 1995, Sailability the most meaningful developments NSW was incorporated as an have not been the ones that make association with Sailability Gosford news, but the steady improvements at and Dobroyd the first branches. the grass roots. By end of 1996, Sailability NSW had “We have gone through a period of spread to North Sydney (now Manly), rapid growth, which has caused some Pittwater, Illawarra, Narooma, 1996 Sailability Australia spinnaker on a problems with issues of governance, so Belmont, Albury, Northern Rivers and Salvo 24 sailing out of Sailability we have tightened up our conditions of Middle Harbour. Rushcutters Bay, Phil Vardy skippering entry into the Sailability family. Twenty years later, there are now 27 “Growth has been solid in regional Sailability programs in NSW . Early challenges? Neil Anderson: NSW and over recent years, we have “Convincing people that sailing was a achieved a good balance between ‘safe’ sport for people with disabilities physically and intellectually disabled … fund raising for boats … taking the sailors. Sailability is for everyone!” trailer around the state to run Come and Try Days and taking time off work Photo: Vanessa Dudley , Access to do this!” Worlds, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria The years that followed were both exciting and testing. Sailability featured on ABC-TV’s “Beyond 2000” at RSYS. In 1995 global solo sailor David Adams became Patron (now Paralympic sailor Liesel Tesch). The late Bluey (Ian Ryan) and Greg Mott sailed an electric Access 2.3 by themselves. In 1996, Neil Anderson became sec- ond Sailability NSW President, after 1996: Paul Tayler and Neil Anderson Denis Critchley. helping double amputee sailor Dale In 2000, Nava George was the first Williams in an Access 2.3, at newly formed ventilated quad in the world to sail solo 2004: All wet with a happy face, Wendy Sailability program at Dobroyd, Sydney. (in an Access 303 on Sydney Harbour). Evans, member Sailability Belmont & Toronto 7 Sailability Australia 2016 The year, the major events, your state Sailability contacts, NSC delegates and websites For Hansa Class Association updates, go to www.ahca.yachting.org.au, find them on Facebook or contact AHCA secretary Shauna Phillips at [email protected]

WA Tracey Odiam SA John Johnston Victoria David Staley Sailability WA Sailability SA President Sailability Vic President President Delegate to NSC and [email protected] Delegate to NSC and Member ISAF Disabled 0413 295 564 and Life Member Port Sailing Committee Adelaide [email protected] Graham White AM Sailing Club Mob: 0428514058 Acting NSC delegate , member RPYC Sam Watson, Inclusion [email protected] [email protected] Manager, Yachting Vic. Mob: 0417 813 188 clubservices Ann Hodgkinson @yachtingvictoria.com.au Sailability WA 03 99570066 Coordinator [email protected] www.sa.yachting.org.au and 0404 145499 go to clubs/classes [email protected] 22-26 January 5–6 March www.sailabilitywa.com.au First INAS International Sailing Chps South Australian Sailability Docklands Yacht Club in Melbourne, 6 & 7 Feb Championships Hansa Class WA State Championships Goolwa Regatta Sailing Club 30 and 31st January As part of Argonaut mini-series. Hosted by Victorian Hansa Class Championships Royal Perth Yacht Club Latrobe Valley Yacht Club

John Price Tasmania NSW Sailability NSW ACT President Terry Peek [email protected] Rod Viney NSC Delegate, Vice- NSC delegate, Mobile: 0435 795660 Chair - Sailing, Sailability President Sailability NSC Delegate tba ACT, Head Coach Tasmania, Member of Special Olympics Bellerive Yacht Club Russell McLaren Sailing and Derwent Sailing SNSW Coordinator Terry Peek Squadron [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mob: 0409550265 Mob: 0427 54 57 59 Mob: 0428096731 www.sailabilitynsw.org www.sailabilityact.org www.sailabilitytas.org 13 & 14 February NSW Hansa Class Championships 14&15 November Nowra Community Sailing Club ACT Dinghy Championships 20th Anniversary Weekend Canberra Yacht Club 23-24 January 27th February Lake Burley-Griffin Tasmanian Hansa Class Sailability NSW Presidents Cup, Championships Dobroyd Aquatic Club, Sydney 26 & 27 November Wynyard Yacht Club 28 February Friendship Cup Anniversary Lunch, Le Montage, Lake Tuggeranong Canberra , ACT. Lilyfield With Sailability Japan. Contact Terry Peek

Queensland Co-opted members Moe Turaga NSC Delegate, Jackie Kay AM President, Sailability NSC Delegate, Queensland, Secretary Sailability PR - Sailability World, Treasurer IHCA Bundaberg [email protected] www.sailability.org [email protected] Sailability Australia is the Australian Mob: 0467610761 arm of Sailability World comprising seven state or territory Sailability Graeme Adam Associations and some 65 programs. www.sailabilityqld.org NSC delegate, PR and Australian sailors with disabilities are news editor represented nationally by delegates 25th March - 28th March (Easter) Member Sydney Flying on Yachting Australia’s National 2016 Australian Hansa Class Squadron Sailability Committee (nominated by Championships [email protected] State yachting Associations). Gold Coast Sailing Club, Queensland. Mob: 0423 741 681