The sailing season for Sailability Gosford will bgin on Tuesday, September 2, at Gosford Sailing Club.
Sailability is a volunteer program that works with respite groups such as Coastlink, Life Without Barriers, House with no Steps, Sunnyfield and Achieve Australia, to provide disabled people with an opportunity to learn proper sailing and seafaring techniques.
Sailability Gosford committee president Mr John Wright said: “The mission of Sailability is to facilitate participation in sailing and boat usage at social, recreational and competitive levels on inland, estuary and ocean waters, for people with disabilities regardless of age and level of disability.”
Sailability Gosford has been able to expand its 2014 program after receiving an additional two Hansa class 303 dinghies that handle easily and do not tip over.
The addition of the extra dinghies will enable more opportunities for people from disadvantaged and otherwise isolated groups to be included in our community sailing activities.
The program runs as a precursor to the Wrinkley Cup, Sailability Gosford’s annual competitive sailing day.
The annual Wrinkley Cup relies on the support of Sailability volunteers and racing coordinator Mr Roger Thornton will be canvassing potential volunteers throughout the incoming season.
The next Wrinkley Cup will be held in 2015 and Mr Thornton had this message for potential volunteers.
“We are happy to take anyone willing to help us with all aspects of our sailing operations and to enhance the sailing day experience for our disabled sailors, no previous experience necessary just a desire to participate in sailing.”
“Volunteers form a vital part of our sailing day operations.
“They rig and launch the dinghies, register the disabled sailors within each group, organise the sailing schedule, control activities on the wharf by assisting sailors with fitting life vests, embarking and disembarking the dinghies, accompany and teach disabled sailors how to handle and sail the dinghies, de-rigging and removal of boats from the water and storing them in the boat shed,” Mr Wright said.
Media release,
18 Aug 2014
John Wright, Sailability
Gosford Committee