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Sailability Online

Competitors in 2005 Sabaudia's Cup and IFDS Single Person Dinghy World Championships

Click on national flags to read sailor profiles. Dependng on IFDS SP classification, competitors with (W) beside their name will compete in the World Championship, utilising full servo-assist controls.

1. AMARAL Bento (Portugal) (W) - Quadriplegia

2. BINTI HASHIM Nor Hashimah "Shimah" (Malaysia)

3. BRADLEY Bill (NSW) (W) - Polio

4. CITO Mario (Italy) - Quadriplegia

5.. CUKARIÄ Diego (Croatia) - Paraplegia

6. DALMON Lindsay (NSW) (W) - Cerebral Palsy

7. DALMON Maria (NSW) (W) - Cerebral Palsy

8. DIN Abdul Karim (Singapore) - CP

9. EVANS Wendy (NSW) (W) - Cerebral Palsy

10. HARLE Simon (UK) (W)- Cerebral Palsy

11. HESS Fred (USA) (W) - Muscular Dystrophy

12. JOHANSON Colin (Victoria) (W) - Quadriplegia

13. MEYER Herb (USA) (W) - Quadriplegia

14. MESSNER Helene (Sth Australia) - Multiple Sclerosis

15. PEGAN Zoltan (NSW) - Paraplegia

16. PEREIRA Fernando (Portugal) (W) - Muscular Dystrophy

17. RIORDAN Chris (Sth Australia) - Cerebral Palsy

18. ROSSATO Marco (Italy) - Paraplegia

19. TAN Maximillian (Singapore) - CP

20. TSINGANOS Panayotis (Greece) (W) - Quadriplegia

21. ZULKIFLI Mohamad Ali "Zul" (Malaysia) - Polio

22. NAME (Country)

23. NAME (Country)

24. NAME (Country)

BENTO AMARAL - (POR)

Bento Amaral was born in Oporto, Portugal, thirty six years ago. As he always lived near the sea, he has been sailing since he was ten years old.

In 1994, he had an accident, while he was swimming at the beach: a wave broke his neck and he became quadriplegic. Obviously, at that moment things changed a lot, as he had to spend six months in hospital, trying to readapt to his new life always supported by his family and friends.

At first, when he came out, he tried to finish his course on food engineering, specialised in the wine area, which he achieved in 1995. Then he started to work at Microsoft's Help Desk, as he thought that it would be quite impossible for him to work in the wine business. Nevertheless, he kept on tasting and visiting wine fairs all over Europe.

In 1999, he was invited to work at the Douro and Port Wine Institute as the head of the Tasting Chamber, where he still remains. One of his dreams was finally achieved… At the same time, and also since 1999, he teaches wine tasting classes in masters courses at the Catholic University of Oporto.

Meanwhile, he restarted his sport life: sailing and snow skiing, both sports he practiced before the accident. It was with great joy that in 2001 he heard about adapted sailing boats, which would allow him to sail all by his own. So, immediately, he wanted to try and experience a freedom he thought he had lost.

Last year (2004) he participated in the 2004 IFDS Single Person Dinghy World Championship, in Blairgowrie, and he took a second place in fleet A. He's very keen to participate in 2005 Single Person Worlds and to find some friends that he met last year.

NOR HASHIMAH BINTI HASHIM "Shimah" (MAL)

I am a Malaysian born in Kuala Lumpur, our nation's capital. I have just turned 21 years old this month, August, 2005. I am one of 10 children in my family, 5 boys and 5 girls, and I am the second youngest.

I only started sailing in February this year, after the Access Dinghies arrived in Malaysia. At first I was very scared of sailing and the boat heeling over. But after going sailing a few times I found the sport very enjoyable. I like being on the water and the sense of freedom I have when I sail.

I am looking forward to travel to Italy and compete with other disabled athletes. For me this will be the first time I will leave my home country. So not only do I have the opportunity to meet new friends, compete in a sport I enjoy, but I will have a wonderful new adventure in travelling to a different country and culture.

BILL BRADLEY (AUS)

At the age of 70 I decided sailing is a sport for me. You must try these things whilst young. Before this season started I had never sat in a boat. But I had a desire to try and compete at to 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. With my disabilities as a Quadriplegic the only sport I would be able to participate in would be sailing. Paralympic Officials soon put payed to that desire, when they announced that there would be no single person boats at the Games.

When I first rolled up to the Pittwater Sailability they informed me that there was going to be a Worlds Championship for Liberty boats at seasons end in Italy. At that time Italy wasn't on my mind. The only thing I was thinking of was four years of training to try and make Beijing. Then the Paralympic's announcement came, which put Italy into my thoughts.

As I floated around the Pittwater Basin in a sailability tub, drooling at the sight of our club's two Liberty boats skimming across the water like magnificent water birds. It was a case of get your own boat and have intensive training sessions if I was going to make it to Italy. My boat is called Clover Dawn, the Christian names of my wife. The names came about after her mother who had had numerous miscarriages was walking across the fields on the Pennine Hills in England early one morning before the birth and found a four-leaf clover.

At the age of 5 I won my first blue ribbon riding a horse in the show ring. Throughout my school days I excelled at a number of sports. My class mate Betty Cuthbert and I were dreaming of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Betty won three gold medals at Melbourne and one in Tokyo. My dreams went down the gurgler when I contacted polio.

After a stint of unconsciousness in an ion lung, and 15 months on my back before sitting up. The specialist decided I was a hopeless case. "Take him home and bring him back when he is 21 and I will try and transplant some muscles" he said. Mum read about a quack that was treating bed-ridden persons. It wasn't long before he was massaging my body with hot towels. He got me going and I have never looked back since that day.

Elite sport was out of the question. For 40 years through sport I have helped to keep kids off the street, and assisted numbers of athletes to rise to the top of their chosen sport. My sporting life in 1995 changed from assisting to competing. A photo appeared in our local newspaper of a wheelchair athlete going to the National wheelchair lawn bowls championship, with a trip to South Africa for the top six players.

I said to Clover that's a great trip, I'm taking up bowls. Cutting this story short, three years later I won the IPC World Championship, Quad division, in South Africa. Italy is my next sporting destination. This event will help me to improve my knowledge and sailing skills in my newfound sport.

The water is a stage were sailors from all walks of life, regardless age or gender whether they are able bodied or with profound disabilities can meet and compete on equal terms in a Liberty. You will find some sailors have more navigation skills than others.

Look what a Liberty can do for you. One would normally only dream of sailing on the Mediterranean and looking at the shore with all its history.

The sport has introduced me to some wonderful people called helpers, who I will always be indebted to.

MARIO CITO (ITA)

I had an accident in 1996 while water skiing, and as a result of which I have tetraplegia. I am 45 yeard old and a druggist. Currently I teach Chemistry. Before my accidient I used to sail on Laser 2 and Hobbycat 18. I also had a wood sail cabin cruiser.

Thanks to Luigi Zambon and all the staff of the School of Sabaudia Sail, I have been able to still feel "the wind on the face" and, incredibly, skippering the fun Liberty alone, sailing in the splendid lago of Paola...... fino to arrive to the Sabaudia' s Cup 2005... Good wind to all!

DIEGO CUKARIÄ (CRO)

Diego was born 41 years ago in Pula , Croatia . He is a paraplegic from 1983 after an car accident . Before the injury he sailed a lot .He start on the Optimist, then Cadet, Snipe, and finally on 470. He is reccently involved again in sailing. Thanks to Jackie Kay , David Cook , and Riekus Hatzmann , Diego is on the way to develop sailing for disabled people in Croatia. In Croatia unfortunatelly there is no boats yet for disabled people . He sails occasionaly on big boats.

Diego says: To sail a Liberty, it will be for me a new experience. To sail that boat on a regatta it will be for excitment and a joy. And with the competition on the Mediterranean Sea, for me is magic, especially because this regatta is in October. In that part of year , if it sunny, it can be a pure magic . The see and the sky. The sun will be gentle, not strong like in the summer. If God sends us a wind, it will be fantastic.

I am looking forward with joy, to compete against all of you guys and girls.When I said in my town that I was going in a regatta to sail against Australians, they told to me: "that is a challenge. The Australians are the best."

LINDSAY DALMON (AUS)

Lindsay is originally from Perth, Western Australia. Born in 1942, with Cerebral Palsy, his parents brought him to Sydney at a very early age to attend the Spastic Centre of New South Wales. After attending school at the Centre, Lindsay then went to work at the Spastic Centre's employment establishment, where he still remains, and today is employed as a IT specialist.

Lindsay has always enjoyed water sports and in fact was the first disabled person to hold a power boat license in NSW. When boating became too difficult for him, he swapped his boat licence for his car licence and thought his boating days were over.

In mid 1996, Lindsay and wife Maria attended a Come & Try day organised by Sailability Pittwater. It wasn't long before Lindsay was sailing proficiently. Soon after, Lindsay joined Sailability Pittwater and now sails every fortnight with the club. He has served on the management committee as treasurer since 1999.

In 1997, Lindsay was invited to sail an Access 2.3 in the novice division at Bayview Yacht Racing Association. This was a chance for Lindsay, a sailor with a disability, to compete against others. The following year, Lindsay purchased a 303, which he named "Wee Two" and sailed with the Mirror fleet. In 2002, Sailability Pittwater purchased two 303's and now Lindsay competes against his own class within the club's fleet.

Lindsay has competed in every inter-club, state and national competition since joining Sailability Pittwater. In 1998 Lindsay teamed up with Maria and competed the 2.3 doubles division of a national competition on Lake Burley Griffin. The couple came in first place and was presented with their medal by Sir William Dean, the then Governor General of Australia.

Lindsay has also competed Internationally. In 2002, he was a member of a team of 27, sailors with disabilities and carers, to represent Australia in the International Championships in Osaka, Japan. This event was hosted by Sailability Japan and the Osaka Harbour Yacht Club and was conducted over two days with a series of eight races for each division. Lindsay won the Championships by coming in first place in the 303 Singles, and together, with Maria was awarded third place in the 303 Doubles. In 2003 he competed, again with the Australian team, in an International Regatta in Thonon, France. Prior to arriving in France, Lindsay spent several days in Athens, Greece where he gave his support to the newly-formed Sailability Hellas. He also took part in an IFDS Sailors' Forum.

In January 2004 Lindsay sailed the Liberty for the first time when he competed in the first IFDS single-Person Dinghy World Championships held in Blairgowie, Austrailia. Sailing with full servo, also for the first time, Lindsay finished 9th in a field of 14. 2 months later he went on and won the Liberty division of The Sydney Harbour Regatta.
Now Lindsay is keenly looking forward to again taking his place in the Australian team when it travels to Italy to compete in the 2nd IFDS Single-Person Dinghy World Championships which are to be sailed in October.

Lindsay has won many medals and awards. In 2000 he was presented with the "Justin Kroh Memorial Trophy" for his commitment to sailing. In 2003 he shared the honour of being awarded "Disabled Sailor of the Year" from Yachting Australia by Mr. Bob Kemp, General Manager of P&O Nedlloyd.

To sail in the IFDS Single-Person Dinghy World Championships is recognition that people with severe disabilities are being seen true sailors. It will give Lindsay the opportunity to compete against international sailors with similar disabilities.

MARIA DALMON (AUS)

Maria Dalmon believes in living life to the fullest. Maria was born in 1955 in Sydney Australia with Cerebral Palsy. Her disability affects her speech, she can only walk short distances and uses an electric wheel chair. Maria's hand movements are also affected. Despite these disabilities, Maria is a very independent and determined person. Independence is very important to her.

Maria was educated at the Spastic Centre of New South Wales. From the age of six, she was taught to type, which meant she was able to type fast enough to complete high school. While at school, Maria joined a Girl Guide company. This gave Maria a chance to be integrated with girls without disabilities. In 1970, Maria was awarded the Queen's Guide, the highest award in Guiding. It was a very proud day for her to be presented with the award by Sir Roden Cutter, the then Governor of New South Wales.

In 1990, Maria took part in a piolet scheme to place people with disabilities in open employment. The scheme allowed Maria to have on-going support and provided any equipment needed. A position was found for Maria in Administration at a local Returned Servicemen League Club. Today, Maria works at the Club 3 day a week.

In 1996, Maria and husband Lindsay joined Sailability Pittwater and sailed regular in a double 2.3. Maria is now an active member of Sailability Pittwater's management committee. Maria, has crewed for Lindsay every inter-club, state and national competition since joining Sailability Pittwater . In 2002, Maria joined a team of 27, sailors with disabilities from Australia to compete in International Championships in Osaka, Japan. Here Maria and Lindsay were awarded 3rd place in 303 doubles. She also competed in the Access Dinghy International Championships at Thonon, France in 2003.

In 2003 Maria began sailing solo. She likes the challenge "sailing her own race" and the feeling of "freedom and being in control"
Maria has only recently started sailing the Liberty using servo control and finds the servo gives her greater control.

Maria is very excited about sailing in the IFDS Worlds in Italy. It will give Maria a chance compete at the highest level in a sport she loves and show the world that people with serve disabilities have a place in the sailing world.

WENDY EVANS (AUS)

Wendy Evans loves the outdoors and anything to do with water. She is a very adventurous person and will have a go at most things, when given the opportunity. Growing up, Wendy's family holidays were spent either on or near the water.

Sailing was far out of her mind until she first became involved with sailing eight years ago at Belmont, Lake Macquarie at a Sailability Come and Try day. This day opened up a new and very exciting chapter of Wendy's life for it was certainly something she never thought she would ever do. She has made so many great friends through Sailability. Wendy has Cerebral Palsy, this effects her co-ordination and has a lot of involuntary movements. After falling out of a 2.3 one day, because a gust of wind caught her off guard and she lost her balance, her father made her a special foam seat to sit in the 2.3 Access Dinghies with a Velcro strap to hold her in the boat. She uses a motorised wheelchair for mobility and independence on land.

Wendy competed in her first State Championship in 1998 at Lake Illawara. She had never been in a real race before and was not sure of how to get round the course. After being guided round the course by Chris Mitchell in the third race, Wendy improved her racing ability and came 2nd in Division 2. She was also awarded the Encouragement Award. Little did Wendy realise at the time, that these two trophies were the start of many. She has competed in three Masters Games, seven State Championships, six Australian Championships, three International Championships and the 1st IFDS World Titles in 2004 etc. Overall, Wendy has competed in 21 sailing events and has collected a mixture of fifteen 1st, 2nd & 3rd places, as well as a number of special awards. In 2003, Wendy travelled to France as part of the Australian Team to compete in 2.3 Access Dinghies International Championships, she very proudly came home from France with a trophy for coming equal 3rd. She also likes sailing in 303s on her own, even though this is much more difficult to pull ropes she still has a lot of fun.

The boat Wendy enjoys the most is the Liberty. At the 1st IFDS World Titles in 2004, she was overwhelmed to be part of such wonderful event and will never forget the feeling of such freedom on a practise day, when her controls were set up to right for her and she went out in up to 25 knots and 1 metre waves. She did not get a place in this event, however, was given an Encouragement Announcement.

This year Wendy was selected as a finalist for Sailor of the Year with a Disability. She never really thought that this could be possible and was so excited by the news.

When Wendy is not on the water, she keeps herself very active. She likes swimming, playing scrabble with a Scrabble Club and on the internet, looking after her little companion dog, Chloe, emailing friends, using her computer and most of all, being with her family. For many, many years she has been involved with helping children, both disabled and able-bodied, in a school environment with computers. At present she volunteers three mornings a week at her local public school, helping children from Kindergarten to Year 4 with computer lessons. Wendy really enjoys her time with the children.

Sailing means so much to Wendy as she feels so free and to be able to be in control of everything whilst on the water makes her feel good to be alive and to be able to do a physical sport alongside able-bodied sailors. Now having the opportunity to compete for her country in the 2005 Sabaudia's Cup & IFDS Single Person Dinghy Worlds in Italy, means that from that first day she ever went sailing on her own, to now she is travelling the world to compete at the highest level, it is the most unbelievable feeling for her. Wendy is really looking forward to yet another big and exciting adventure in her life and she will be truly trying her very best....

Simon Harle (GBR)

He is 33 and was born in Cyprus and has been wheelchair bound from birth. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy and has difficulty with speech, cannot walk and has only limited use of his hands. Easily identified as he sports red hair and always has it plaited, those who know him say he has a wicked sense of humour.

Having his own flat in Loughborough he employs people to allow him carry on the life style that he wants, not what other people think he should have and is very determined to succeed with it. Day to day the activities are fairly routine, visiting day centres and mixing with people of his own age in a local SWAG group. (Socially wheeled activity group)

While he was at a Scope college he took up BOCCIA bowls (a form of bowls where you sit to play) and played up to National Level his best efforts took him to the quarter finals.

His interest in sailing was stimulated by a trip on the Jubilee Sailing Trust ship the Lord Nelson (a tall ship) and constantly pestered his parents to take him sailing. A chance visit to Rutland Sailing Club for a JST function triggered the sailing bug.

Rutland Sailing Club is the home of Rutland Sailability and he started sailing in September 1999, it was thought that he would never sail on his own but with his own efforts and lots of help from all the volunteers he managed to sail in a servo (electric motors on steering and sheets) assisted 2.3 access and after the first year won the National Championship. This spurred him on and he bought his own boat "Tigger" a servo assisted 2.3. He went on to win the National championship for the next 4 years as well as winning the Travelling series 4 successive years. Beating more able bodied at some events. The Travelling series, organised by the Access Dinghy Association (UK) consists of 9 races held at different clubs up and down the United Kingdom with generally up to 20 sailors taking part in both 303 and 2.3 classes.

He also helms a 303 with a friend and the clubs Drascombe luggers and Kinsman (17' keel boat)but he still loves his own boat and sails it whenever he can. During the summer months sailing takes up most of his time, Wed, Thur and some Saturdays. But during holidays usually in Florida there has to be time for roller coaster rides he is an extreme ride fanatic and has been on most of the Disneyworld rides.

He attended the first IFDS World Championship, sailing the Liberty. At first he was unhappy with the boat as he had difficulty adapting to it. However by the end of the 10 days he loved it, so much in fact he purchased one of the boats and had it shipped to England. It arrived in mid September and was stored until April (sail number 1063 named NOMIS.) Since then he has sailed it around the country giving demonstrations and racing against 303's usually showing them a clean pair of heels winning most events. His is the only Liberty in the UK to be sailed in regular competitions. Most of the clubs are amazed at the performance of the boat and how well Simon sails it. But only the select few get a chance in it. He attended the official opening of the RYA centre in Weymouth where the Liberty's performance was applauded by every one who sailed it.

FRED HESS (USA)

Fred Hess, 62, has been sailing for 60 years. He started sailing on Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, at the Baltimore Yacht Club. Fred's first racing experience was in Snipes, racing his own boat as a teenager, where he was invited to crew in the National Championship Regatta in Oklahoma in 1958. Upon moving to California in 1960 Fred was a sailing instructor at Stanford, where he also initiated and ran the Junior Sailing Program at the Palo Alto Yacht Club and began sailing the O'Day Daysailors. He won several local championships, and participated in the O'Day national championships.

In 1966, Fred represented Stanford University at the collegiate level, sailing at Kings Point Academy, New York. Upon entering the Air Force after college, Fred had the wonderful opportunity to experience the worldwide community of sailors and appreciate this unique group, including sailing Scows in Wisconsin with the famous Buddy Melges, sailing at the Kings Royal Yacht Club in Thailand at Pattya beach, and with the Spanish King, Juan Carlos and his son Prince Philip.

In 1983, while living in Marbela, Spain as a dealer in Hobie Cats and later Beneteau, (owning his own First 29) Fred was diagnosed with adult onset form of Muscular Dystrophy, which has slowly progressed. He spent 5 years living and working in Central America before returning to America unable to walk and thinking his sailing days were over. Fred returned to his beloved California and discovered the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors (BAADS). One glorious Sunday on the San Francisco Bay changed his life, sailing a 29 Erickson, from a gimballed chair. Fred immediately sold the idea of converting an old Columbia Challenger 24 to the local Cerebral Palsy chapter in Stockton where he devised and built his own gimballed chair working from the design ideas at BAADS and proceeded to actively race in the largest fleet of challengers remaining in the world that are at Stockton Sailing Club.

In 2000, Fred met Chris Mitchell and Jackie Kay, and from this meeting and subsequent afternoon sail on Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, where he raced against his son and Chris, Fred realized there was a possibility he could return to active sailing and racing.

He participated in a weekend of drifting conditions in a regatta in Northern California, then travelled to the North Americans in Erie , Pennsylvania in June 2004 and enjoyed the exquisite satisfaction of match racing Chris Mitchell in the first 2 liberty boats imported into the US (Fred beat him 4-0)!!

Fred is incredibly excited and enthusiastic about attending this regatta as his very first return to fleet one design dinghy racing in over 3 years.

COLIN JOHANSON (AUS)

At the age of 20 Colin damaged his spinal chord in a hang gliding accident in 1977 while he was a University student, leaving him a quadriplegic, reliant on a manual wheelchair but still able to drive his car. He soon set up a design and manufacturing business and returned to study in the field of ergonomics. Not willing to have his disability terminate his sport participation, Colin returned to snow skiing in a sit ski in 1988, won the 1991 Australian Quad Skiing competition at Hotham (in a bi-ski he helped design) and then began water skiing again (also his own design) until the late 90’s when shoulder injuries (snow skiing) and a broken hip (water skiing) made him decide to focus on sailing, a sport he had returned to in 1995 after a break of 18 years. The Access equipment is what minimises his disability and allows him to sail to the best of his ability.

Colin has combined his love of sailing with his passion with design and was a test sailor for the Liberty prototypes as he was the right weight, was happy to push the yacht, and give feedback on the comfort from a wheelchair user’s point of view (he also tested the prototype 303 many years before). He has assisted with the CAD translations for the new UD18, and enjoys all types of design and works full time as CAD & IP Coordinator for a tertiary education Institute. Using his ergonomics training, he also assists with ideas for seating and control devices for the servo Access yachts.

Sailing in wild weather is Colin’s idea of fun and relaxation and he enjoys the performance and safety of the Liberty. He also loves the feeling of freedom, away from his wheelchair, that sailing offers. Never a team sport enthusiast he loves sailing solo, challenging the wind, the waves and his GPS, often sailing off on his own for the sheer joy of it.

Since 2000 Colin became involved with what is now Docklands Sailability and has been President for the last two years. Colin’s Liberty is sponsored by the Docklands Authority (Vic Urban). Living only 100m from Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, Australia, the home of Access Dinghies, he is also a member of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Williamstown, only 1 km from where he lives.

In 2002 he came third in the Victorian titles in the open 303 manual class, did not compete in 2003 as he was testing the first prototype Liberty, came second in the 303 open in 2004 (again sailing full manual) and recently in 2005, scored second in the open Liberty Class (sailing full servo). In 2004, competing in his full servo Liberty, Colin came second in Open, first in the Servo and first in the International Class. In 2005 he was nominated for Disabled Sailor of the Year for both the Yachting Victoria and Yachting Australia Awards.

At the inaugural IFDS Single Person World Championships, using Liberty yachts, held at Blairgowrie, Australia in January 2004, Colin came fourth in the Full Servo Division and learnt a lot about World competition at that level. Extending his involvement with sailing he has started getting his certification as an Instructor and is Public Officer of the new Australian Access Dingy Class Association aiming for IRC status for the Access yachts.

Looking forward to representing Australia in Italy, his first trip to Europe and a chance to renew friendships from the first Worlds in 2004, he sees a great future for the sport where high level disabled sailors can showcase their abilities, leaving their disabilities on shore with their wheelchairs.

HERB MEYER (USA)

Sailing in the 2005 Single Person Dinghy World's Championships in the "Liberty" Access Dinghy ! Wow, have I been looking forward to sailing in this event for sailors with severe disabilities. I sailed in the first World's Championships in Melbourne, Australia in January, 2004 in which I had the opportunity of sailing the "Liberty" with servo electric controls for both steering and sheeting.. Now sailors with severe disabilities can sail together in a regatta on an "Equal, Level Playing Field " in which all the sailors have an equal opportunity to compete.

The "Liberty" Access Dinghy has proven to be a boat that can handle wind speeds up to 25 kn safely. Even when heeled over to 40°, the high gunnels keep the water out of the boat and the twin rudders keep the steering well under control. Sailing this boat is truly a blast. I'm looking forward to brisk winds on the Mediterranean.

I have been sailing for over 60 years and over 10 years since my disabling accident. I am a quadriplegic and am thrilled to be able to travel to Italy to compete in this International Regatta. Sailing and racing are still very important to me and give me incentive to continue living each day and getting the most part of each opportunity presented. In Chris Cross's song "Sailing", "Sailing Takes Me Back to Where I Want to Be".

I am looking forward to seeing all my friends from around the world in Italy this October.

HELENE MESSNER (AUS)

Helene learnt to sail on a lake in Sussex U.K. at the age of 31. Prior to this she was a state champion swimmer and water-skiing champion.

.Her first boat was a "mini-sail" 13 foot scow (English design) with 80 square foot of sail which she raced regularly on the lake.

Helene returned to Adelaide, South Australia in the early 1970s and purchased a Mirror dinghy called Snoopy One and eventually Snoopy Two and Three followed. It was in Snoopy Three that she won the Bryan Buxton Trophy race from Largs Bay to the Pt River Sailing Club. In 1978 she gained third place in the Australian Women's Sailing Championships in Sydney Harbour sailing a Status 19 day sailor. After this she had a partnership in an Austral 20 trailer sailor which she eventually owned after two years.

She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1981 after a series of severe car accidents and trauma to her spinal cord

In 1981 she completed her first Milang to Goolwa (26 miles on the lower River Murray) race after a lapse of eight years due to illness. She commenced sailing competitively again and has completed 13 Milang to Goolwa races. Her best effort was 10th overall in the fourth division (50 boats) and 16th overall in a borrowed RS 24 (divisions 3 and 4, 100 boats).

In 1998 she sailed her Austral 20 in the Port River for two years and then progressed to a 24 foot Austral keel boat which she raced regularly in the Pt River. Her best effort was to claim Line Honours in the Ladies Day Race in 2001. That was the year she discovered Sailability having never thought she would sail a small dinghy again. It was a wonderful event for her because her true love was in small boat sailing.

She progressed to the Access 3.03 single-handed and raced at Pt Adelaide Sailing Club and then to the Liberty which she races at Adelaide Sailing Club. Her best efforts thus far were third place in the Sailability Regatta at Goolwa in 2003, third place in the State Titles Liberty division held at Pt Adelaide Sailing Club. In 2003 Helene came sixth in the Access Dinghy National Championships 3.03 solo division in Canberra.

She has been a fulltime university student since 1998 and has gained her Bachelor of Arts degree (University of Adelaide) in 2002, Graduate Diploma (Counseling) at the University of SA in 2004 and has just completed her Graduate Certificate (Art History) at Adelaide University in 2005.

Prior to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis Helene was working as a community health /nurse practitioner and is also a midwife.

In 2004 Helene was not eligible to compete in the IFDS single person dinghy World Championships held in Australia. Being able to compete in Italy; and to race in international competition will be high-light of her sailing career.

ZOLTAN PEGAN (AUS)

Zoltan Pegan, 47, was born in Sydney Australia, has lived in Canada, USA and Australia and now lives in Budapest, Hungary with his wife Eva.

Zoltan is paraplegic after a skydiving accident in Canada in 1983, where he was flying as a search and rescue pilot with the Canadian Forces. He started sailing in 1997 in the Access 2.3 Dinghy, won his first Australian National Championship in 1998, and again in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003.

As a Trustee of the Access Dinghy Foundation Zoltan is keen to develop the accessible sailing concept throughout the world.

He has represented Australia in three IFDS World Championships in the Sonar class and last year in the first IFDS Single Person Dinghy (Liberty) Worlds in Blairgowrie, Australia. Zoltan has also competed in numerous Australian State and National championships in the 2.4mR. He'll be coming to Italy fresh from the IFDS Disabled Sailing 2.4mR World Championship in Sonderborg, Denmark.

"Many of this years competitors will have had a year and a half to practice and train in the Liberty since the 2004 Single Person Dinghy Worlds, especially those Australians who can sail all year round, so the skill level should be appreciably higher and the competition that much tougher.

"In Blairgowrie the fleet was split into two divisions, servo-assisted and non-servo (manual). While this was meant to provide a more level and equitable field for the severely disabled sailors (we all acknowledge that you can trim a boat faster by hand than by servo) it split the talent. In Italy, where the servo-assisted sailors are contesting for the title of World Champion within the one Sabaudia Cup fleet, it will be a more challenging and exciting event. We'll have everyone going for the line at once and clever tactics and sound strategy will be more important factors than just how fast you can trim the sails.

"I'll be sailing in the non-servo group again this year, so I'm not actually in the World Championship. I'm entered in the Sabaudia Cup. Last year in Blairgowrie I won all 8 races in my division but it wasn't enough to win the title or the prize Liberty because I wasn't as disabled as the guy who won just 7 of 8 races in the servo-division. I'll just have to do better this time."

FERNANDO PEREIRA (POR)

Fernando José Pereira was born in Matosinhos, Portugal, forty-five years ago. When he was 18 years old a progressive neuromuscular disease was diagnosed.

Since then, he got used to his new life and started working at the Leixões Port, at Matosinhos when he was 19 years old. He worked there for 30 years. Today he is already retired. Meanwhile, at 23 years old he had a child whom he had to take care of alone.

Regarding his sport life, he practices "boccia" at high competition levels - World Championship 2002: 1st place (pairs) and 2nd (single), gold medal (pairs) in the World Cup 2003, Silver medal (pairs) in Paralympics Games Athens 2004 and silver medal (single and pairs) in the European Championship 2005.

As Fernando always lived near the sea, soon he was attracted to the nautical sports, but thought it would be quite difficult for him to practice. 3 years ago he had the opportunity to try a sailing boat and he loved it. Since then he tries to sail frequently.

His first sailing championship was the 2004 IFDS Single Person World Championships and he came 7th (full servo-assist controls division).

CHRIS RIORDAN (AUS)

Christopher Riordan was born at Mildura Base Hospital on the 26 April 1970. He was a healthy 8.6 pounds at birth.

It was not until Chris was seven months old that he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. This was an enormous shock to both his parents, the specialist at the time told them to go home and have more children and leave him behind in an institution as he would never be able to walk or talk but would be a vegetable. His parents refused this advice and took him home to Mildura, Victoria.

For the next three years his parents took him across to Adelaide in South Australia every six weeks, (a distance of 400km) for intensive physiotherapy and exercises for his mother and father to give him.

It was at this early age that Christopher was first introduced to sailing as his father had a "C" class catamaran and with the family they went to Lake Hawthorn and Lake Cullulerain to sail. This continued until 1975 when the family moved to Melbourne where Chris's father took up a teaching position and Chris attended Yooralla Special School.

Chris's sailing experiences were curtailed until the family finally moved back to Mildura in 1985 where he became involved with the Lake Hawthorn Yacht Club; he began sailing again in the club's training program in a Sabot. It was at this point he purchased his own Sabre and began sailing competitively under the guidance of his coach Terry Benson and other sailors at the club.

Chris became a member of Adelaide Sailing Club and was delighted to discover that when racing an Access Dinghy he was now at the front of the multiclass fleet of over 50 boats instead of always at the back of the fleet as had been the case before. Front of the fleet is now his preferred and usual position. In 2003 Chris came 1st in the 3.03 State Championships 3.03 single division and 3rd in the Nationals 2.3 division. In 2004 he did the same and came 2nd in the Sailability Regatta in the Liberty division. In the 2004/2005 season Chris came 1st in the State national Championships.

Chris is a very supportive member of Adelaide Sailing Club and volunteered his IT skills to good effect last January when the Club hosted one world championship and three national championships including an Olympic class, the 470.

Chris has never been further away than Newcastle N.S.W. and is a mixture of apprehension and excitement at participating in the IFDS SP World Championships. Above all, he is intending to have fun and winning a Liberty would be an extra bonus!

MARCO ROSSATO (ITALY)

In 2001 I had a motorcycle accident, since then I am paraplegic. I had the great fortune to be still here, full of love for life. I consider myself very lucky having had the possibility to enter the world of Sailability. For me is a great honour to take part in the Sailability family. I am morally supported by many people, like Luigi Zambon, a person that I appreciate and admire a lot. He is an infinite source of inspiration for me.

I feel very strong now, I would like to ride my motorbike again, go skiing, or for long walks like I used to when I was younger. After a few months from the accident I managed to go back to my usual job, in the same firm where I used to be, where with great success I achieved a higher level of responsibility.

I became President of the Sailability-Veneto Onlus with two operative centres, one based in the wonderful Garda Lake and another one still to decide but probably will be near Venice.

My passion for sailing started just for joke, and then slowly grew and became part of me, of my DNA. I started sailing on my own but I think it wouldn't have been the same if I wouldn't have found such a wonderful place and people that I immediately loved such as Mrs Gabriella and Mr Luigi. I had a very short experience as I sailor, my first course was in 2001 with the "dream" then with "Sabaudia Prima" and the "303" and the "2.4".

I appreciate very much sailing on the dinghies "Liberty", I think they are extremely comfortable. I hope to meet everyone very soon.

MAXIMILLIAN TAN (SIN)

Maximillian Tan Chern was born on 6 August 1987. He is currently pursuing a course in digital media design and animation graphics at a local institute of technical education college. Suffering from cerebral palsy has not deterred Max in engaging in a sporty lifestyle. He took up sailing actively a couple of years ago and has competed in many local sailing championships. His hard work and determination to do his best in sailing has garnered him many championships medals and he was the Champion for the 2004 Access 2.3 class regatta held in Singapore.

Thereafter, Max moved onto greater heights in sailing when in 2004, he was crowned Champion of Division Three in the Access Dinghy International and Australian Championships and also won a Team Trophy Winner. He also managed to clinch the Nedlloyd Traveler's Award for his performance in the Championships. With these sailing awards and positive attitude towards life, Max was also one of the Nominees for the Singapore Sports Council's Sportsboy of the Year Award.

All these would not have been possible without the support of his loving parents who have been supporting Max in his outdoor pursuits and in enabling him to reach his fullest potential in life. Max also pursues horseback riding and theatrical plays in his free time. Max is currently residing with an older sister and his parents in the northeastern part of Singapore.

PANAYOTIS TSINGANOS (GRE)

You don't want to know anything more about me; do you? Read below. I only want you to be jealous: I was there. At Blairgowrie, sailing the first ever world regatta for sailors with severe disabilities in the Port Philip Bay, we created some history. Moreover, we all had a great time.

Australia was 14000 km away from Greece (it still is). When I learnt about the upcoming event in Italy, there was one (1) possible rsponse by me: count me in!"

Panayotis Tsinganos is a Greek C5 quadriplegic, after a car accident in 1987. He had been sailing as a boy in the years 1978 through 1983. He began sailing the Optimist, he continued with Laser and 420's, and even sailed occasionally Finn and 470.

After being hospitalized in Greece and Germany he was in a really bad condition, unable to even sit still on his wheelchair without being secured in it. Nine years later, after lots of efforts (operations and physical therapy) he managed to go to the Athens Univ. and graduate the Biology dept. in 2000. He got involved with computer programming and started his own business in 2001, as a software developer and scripter. His site's URL is: http://www.netlab.gr.

He is an activist in the fields of Ecology and Disability Awareness. He is a writer and has been interviewed by the mass media many times. He discovered Sailability and Access Dinghy Foundation in October 2002. After a lot of hard volunteer work and taking advantage of the Access Dinghy Foundation 's will and support, he launched Sailability Hellas with a legacy of 5 Access Dinghies (one Liberty, named "Jackie").

For Panayotis (what a name to pronounce!) who is a musician too, sailing represents the magic in his life. "I am not interested in the luring prize", he concedes. "This World Regatta is by itself very important for the upgrading of Persons with Severe Disabilities' life-status. Being part of it is 'all the money' for me".

He sings Neil Young's song:

See the losers in the best bars
Meet the winners in the dives
Where the people are the real stars
All the rest of their lives

As long as we can sail away
As long as we can sail away
There 'll be wind in the canyon
Moon on the rise
As long as we can sail away

MOHAMAD ALI ZULKIFLI "Zul" (MAL)

I come from a family of 10 children and I have 6 brothers and 3 sisters. My father was a soldier and even though I was born in Terengganu, on the East Coast of peninsular Malaysia, my family was originally from Negeri Sembilan (south of Kuala Lumpur).
I contracted Polio at a young age which left me without the use of both legs. On land I use a wheelchair to get around, and I also drive a car.

I love Sports. I have competed internationally as a Tennis Player (representing Malaysia on numerous occasions) and I have also been active in Wheel Chair Racing.

My current passion is sailing. I started sailing in April 2004. Sailing is a fun and relaxing sport and I like to compete - so why not compete in sailing. My heart is there on the water with the wind on my face.

I am a businessman. I am married to Anna, a teacher at a school for intellectually challenged children. We have two beautiful daughters, Ika (7 years) and Mira (6 years), and they love to come sailing with dad when ever they can.

For Access Liberty information - Chris Mitchell, Access Dinghies

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