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News
TELLTALES - MARCH 2005
Volume 6 Issue 2
1. Sailability International meets at IFDS YES Conference
2. Vale Andrew Hartley
3. Skoto Hem, Sweden
4. IFDS Single Person Dinghy World C'ships Italy
5. Camp Access, Snohomish County, Wa USA
6. Liberty Boat Review, Australian Sailing Magazine
7. Our Boats Arrived, Malaysia
8. We Gotta Regatta Report, Fl. USA
9. Sailor Profile - Cedric Casadi (France)
10. Sailor Profile - Allister Peek (Australia)
11. La Voile Ensemble - France
12. UD18 Update - Julian Bethwaite
13. Upcoming Events
1. Sailability International meets at IFDS YES Conference
During
December, IFDS held the very successful Youth Enabled Sailing Conference
(YES) in Amsterdam. This was the first conference of its type with 120
delegates, representing 33 countries attending. Delegates participated
in a busy two day schedule of workshops, presentations, and browsed through
a very comprehensive exhibition of boats, equipment and displays. This
was an outstanding opportunity for many new countries to be introduced
to sailing for people with disabilities.
The day before the Conference, Sailability representatives from nine countries
were fortunate to have the opportunity to meet face to face. Even though
everyone was well acquainted through email contact, this was the first
opportunity for many to meet each other. A number of important topics
were discussed at the meeting including future development, Sailability
International Inc. wishes to heartily congratulate IFDS on the triumphant
YES Conference and thank IFDS for the opportunity to hold the Sailability
meeting.
Currently there are 331 Sailability clubs operating in 14 countries. Sailability
International Incorporated comprises the active national Sailability organisations
of UK, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, USA,
France, Greece, Italy, Austria, Netherlands and Hungary. Sailability originated
in Great Britain in the 1980. In 1991 Sailability was introduced to Australia
and since 1995 Sailability has proliferated throughout the world, improving
the lives of many thousands of disadvantaged and disabled people through
the activity of sailing.
Website or Email
BELOW: Delegates representing Sailability in Singapore, Australia, UK,
Hungary, Greece, Netherlands, Austria, La Voile Ensemble (France), Associação
Portuguesa de Vela Adaptada (Portugal)
RIGHT:
Frankie Thanapal Sinniah, President of Sailability Singapore with Clive
Clifford, CEO RYA Sailabiity (UK)
2. Vale Andrew Hartley
Editor
Australian sailing has lost a true hero with the recent death of Andrew
Hartley in Adelaide. Andrew was lauded as the joint Australian Disabled
Sailor of the Year only four months ago and was in the midst of preparing
for the 2005 IFDS Single Person Dinghy World Championships in Italy later
this year. At the 2004 Worlds, he became the only ventilated quadriplegic
to have competed independently in a World Championships - in any sport.
Andrew's contribution to the development of sailing for people with profound
disabilities is without comparison. His extraordinary courage remains
an inspiration to the people he came in contact with. The following is
kindly provided by one of Andrew's greatest supporters - Past President
of Sailability South Australia, Deirdre Schahinger.
Andrew
learnt to sail with his father and two brothers on the lakes of England.
He competed in national and international competition from the age of
eleven. The family came to Australia in 1976 bringing with them Andrew's
boat disguised as a piano. This 'piano', International Cadet sail number
6232 is still sailing competitively at Adelaide Sailing Club.
Andrew sailed at the Glenelg Sailing Club until 1982. In June of that
year, just four days before his 21st birthday he broke his neck playing
rugby union for Southern Suburbs. He had no movement or feeling below
his neck and was dependent on a ventilator to breathe twenty-four hours
a day. After twelve months in hospital, during which time he married his
fiancée Anne, Andrew became the first ventilator-dependant quadriplegic
in Australia to live in the community.
Andrew became involved with Sailability in 2002 when he learnt that a
dinghy had been designed that would enable him to go sailing again. After
a successful fund-raising campaign by the Hartley family and Deirdre Schahinger
(Sailability SA) the Access Liberty was purchased in October 2003. Andrew
had his first sail in more than twenty years, showing no fear or misgivings
as he rounded the breakwater at Adelaide Sailing Club into open water
and twelve-knot winds. Andrew's ventilator sat in an especially built
compartment in the transom of his boat. He steered the boat with his chin
and was able to fine tune the sails using a reed switch, activated by
a magnet taped to his cheek.
After just a couple of day's practice, Andrew competed in the 2004 IFDS
Single-Person Disabled World Championships in Blairgowrie. In his first
race he finished a highly creditable third, and also gained two fifths
and a sixth during the regatta. He finished with an eighth overall in
fleet A. This was despite having to carry thirty kilos of medical equipment
in the transom of his boat. When Andrew competed at Blairgowrie, he became
the only ventilated quadriplegic in history to compete in a World Championships
- at ANY sport.
Andrew
had a strong competitive spirit and he had not lost his ability to hit
the start-line on the gun, going flat out, even though the crew on the
start boat had to duck to avoid having their hats taken off by Andrew's
Access Liberty mast. 15 to 20 knots of wind was Andrew's idea of a good
breeze; the only condition that made him head for the bar on a race day
was when the seas were over a metre as his chin control would move out
of his reach and he was going nowhere. Lots of wind, flat water, sun sparkling
on the sea was Andrew's favourite racing conditions.
Andrew will be missed for many qualities; his spirit, his wicked sense
of humour, his friendship and his huge delight in being able to go sailing
again. Breeze on, Andrew; fair winds and good sailing.
Andrew's comment…...
"The competitive side of me still dominates my sailing. It matters
not who I'm sailing against, I just want to make my boat go faster. My
real wish is to achieve the kind of results that will prove that profoundly
disabled people have a place in this sport; that we can be competitive
with less disabled and able-bodied sailors, and that we deserve to be
recognised as a serious sailing force."
(Return to Index)
3.
Skoto Hem, Sweden
by Emma Hallén
In October 2002 a small delegation from the Swedish equivalent to Sailability,
"Skota Hem", went to Rutland. Our hosts and friends Ian and
Pauline Harrison introduced us to a very inspiring man, John Morley who
is very active at Rutland Sailability. He showed us what boats are sailed
at their club and sent us out sailing in all sorts of boats, many of which
were new to us.
"Skota Hem" has been
working with disabled sailing in Sweden since early nineties, mostly sailing
2.4 mR which is a big integrated class in Sweden, and later the Sonar
also. We use the Sonar for racing as well as for activities with disabled
children who want to try sailing together with our instructors. We also
take out multi disabled kids to experience the nature in a sailboat; feeling
the movements of the boat in the waves and the splash of water on their
faces.
At the time for our excursion to England we felt the urge to find new
equipment to enable children with disabilities to sail single handed.
For this the 2.4 mR is too complex and powerful. Therefore we went to
Rutland, where we fell for the simplicity of the safe and easily handled
Access Dinghy.
Aside from the activities at our home club we have visited summer camps
for kids with disabilities introducing them to the sport of sailing in
the Access Dinghy. The coming season we will start a new project travelling
all over Sweden to show other clubs and organisations what the Access
have to offer young sailors with (or without) physical disabilities.
In most regular sailing schools in Sweden the Optimist Dinghy and a Swedish
two person dinghy is used by beginners. Those classes exclude many sailors
with disabilities, but since they are well spread they will last. We have
to complement their activities and cater for those kids limited by their
disabilities, which is done in our Access programme. Therefore we can
not reach the same degree of integration as we do in our 2.4 programme.
And we conduct separate activities, for young sailors with very special
needs; but we do not act in the dark. Our base is in the middle of the
club area of the Royal Swedish Sailing Association, with 300 active sailors
of all ages and standards training weekly during season. So even though
they sail different boats and take part in different activities on the
water, there is lots of interaction on land!
Alex
and Gustav enjoying themselves on the water
21
year old Mattias Håkansson, started sailing a 2.4mR in 1997. He
treasures the feeling of freedom that sailing gives him. He tried out
the Access 2.3 with great success when we visited his club last summer.
4. IFDS Single Person Dinghy World C'ships Italy
The World Championship will comprise SP1 sailors and those SP2 sailors
who choose to sail full servo. The World Champion will be the lowest point
score amongst the full servo assist sailors.
Sabaudia's Cup International Regatta will comprise all competitors, including
the full servo assist, partial servo and manual sailors. This World Championship
and International Regatta will be sailed in one fleet and be open to holders
of an IFDS Single
Person Classification Passport(Appendix J)
The World Championship and Sabaudia's Cup will be sailed concurrently,
with twenty Liberty being provided by event organisors, and owner provided
boats.
The Sabaudia's Cup winner will be lowest point score across all divisions and will win a Liberty.
San
Felice Circeo is 100 km south of Rome. Circeo Yacht Vela Club operates
from a man made yacht basin and fishing port extending into the Mediterranean,
and promises good winds and waves with exhilarating downwind surfing conditions.
Download Flyer
A4
format
Letter
format
(Return to Index)
5. Camp Access, Snohomish County
by Dennis Hannon, Footloose, Seattle
Peace and quiet, ah. Just a little peace and quiet for a few minutes.
Out in the boat worries are left at the dock, a few minutes of quiet.
Admittedly quiet is a relative thing in a camp full of kids on a sunny
summer day but some quiet restful sailing is a nice break. So what if
the wind is not cooperating. So what if we are stuck behind a log. So
what; wheels, complication and stress are sitting back on the dock.
Footloose Sailing of Seattle
has provided sail boats for Camp Access for the last three years much
to our pleasure. Sailing can be a little bit of quiet and sanity in an
otherwise very busy and hectic day. This year we were able to provide
four 10 foot Australian Access 303 Dinghies to camp. These little plastic
boats are designed not to tip over and still be high performance, and
at the same time be fully accessible to everyone in camp.
With a little help from some great volunteers, barriers fade into the
background and the essence of freedom is truly experienced, out on the
water, in the sunshine, with just a little breeze.
(Return to Index)
6. Liberty Boat Review, Australian Sailing Magazine
Vanessa Dudley, Editor
Excerpt February 2004 edition-Courtesy of Vanessa Dudley and Australian Sailing.
Get Your Bum West Again is the title of a book on Access
Dinghy sailing and sailors, published by the Access Dinghy Foundation.
During my sail of the new Access Liberty not a single splash came into
the cockpit, no matter how hard I tried to lay the boat over on its ear
and otherwise test its limits. So I didn't get my bum wet, but I spent
a lot of time laughing, enjoying the boat and marveling at its ingenuity.
In designing the Access Dinghies, Chris Mitchell has managed to find practical
means to incorporate a series of clever design features
Unstayed foremast
The Liberty's distinctive look is due to the inclusion of two unstayed
masts. "The boat had to be self-tacking, and the jib had to have
just one sheet which could be led to a winch," Mitchell explains.
"The foremast is unstayed and set up with a strut, which looks like
a wishbone but is really only half. The outcome is technically a schooner."
The boat has two rudder blades in moulded cases so it can heel freely
and still track straight and stay dry. The cockpit is intentionally narrow,
so able-bodied people can't move their weight around for an advantage,
and also to support disabled sailors. Mitchell has designed and additional
thoracic support for people who can't sit up straight; a moulding which
can be easily bolted in.
The topsides are high to prevent the ingress of water when the boat is
sharply heeled. Five cubic feet of styrene foam in slabs is glassed in
to the hull before the deck is joined, so there's a lot of buoyancy in
reserve even if the hull is punctured.
Mitchell's design ingenuity is typified by the electric winches, which
he has built using windscreen wiper motors. "The boat had to be simple
and inexpensive. Otherwise you end up with a $30,000 boat," Mitchell
says.
Easy to sail
The Access Liberty is comfortable and easy to sail in standard joystick
controlled mode. The sail controls are right at hand and the boat responds
immediately to any commands via the joystick.
In spite of the fact that it has a ballasted centreboard, the boat responds
like a lively dinghy to increases in wind pressure. Boat speed picks up
and the Liberty heels, just like any dinghy, but it will sit over on its
ear and keep on sailing forward, rather than capsizing, if you don't let
the sails off in the gusts. Intentionally pushed to its limits, the Liberty
still refuses to even contemplate capsizing, takes no water over the leeward
coaming and holds its steering remarkably well, thanks to the twin rudders,
until ultimately rounding up towards the wind.
So it's a very forgiving boat without sacrificing the exhilaration of
small boat sailing. It's simple, safe, fun and surprisingly swift.
Running downwind, the jib will happily wing itself out on the windward
side without the need for a pole or any special effort by the sailor.
Adding the servo assist system complicates life initially while you try
to figure out how to use the control box without letting the sails out
when you mean to pull them in, and vice versa, meanwhile swerving wildly
around the bay as you come to grips with this new means of steering. The
control box allows you to continue altering course while adjusting the
sails. The control toggle is responsive and can be operated using your
chin. It's a very clever system which will allow profoundly disabled sailors
to pilot their own craft, sail solo and compete on the water."
Jibs goosewing of their own accord downwind.
Pushed
on its ear with the sails strapped on, the Liberty keeps on tracking straight
and doesn't want to capsize.
Driver's
Seat is a separate moulding which is easily clipped in and out of the
cockpit; servo assist control box can be seen resting on the starboard
side of the aft tank.
7. Our Boats Arrived
by Ian Anderson, Sailability
Malaysia
1.
Boats arrived:
All were excited to receive our own boats on December 16th 2004. Now,
along with the fleet of Malaysia Paralympic Council, there are 7 x 2.3's
and 1 x Liberty available for our fledgling sailors.
2.
Shared experience:
A new sailing school for youngsters commenced late 04 at Kelab Tasik Putrajaya.
This is great for Sailability as we all share the same waterway, and enjoy
the elements together. We are looking forward to further interaction with
Megat and his team.
3.
Gone Sailing:
Now with our own boats it is easier to schedule come and try days. Already
this year we have had 2 events with able and disabled alike participating.
4.
Potential new sailors like Michael are excited at the possibility to get
out of the house, socialise, and use his management skills that have been
dormant for so long since his car accident. Michael is excited about helping
to build Sailability in Malaysia.
5.
Logo change:
Please note our logo change in line with the Sailability International
direction for consistent look and feel about our identity. Our constitution
is well underway, thanks to help from Sailability International Inc.
6.
Current Focus:
The business end of Sailability is now our focus. We want to make ourselves
and our sponsors like APL more visible, so we can gain approval for more
sites and have more corporate sponsors take up the opportunity of community
service.
7.
Our first site - Kelab Tasik Putrajaya:
We hope to tell you about our second Sailability site in the next newsletter.
8.
Oh yes, and you're always welcome in friendly Malaysia, where the sun
always shines and the weather is always warm (for those of you who are
"wintering" right now).
Gong Xi Fa Cai, to our Chinese friends.
(Return to Index)
8. We Gotta Regatta Report, Fl. USA
Debby Frenkel, Tradewinds Foundation
They left their wheelchairs, crutches, and cares onshore as they set
sail at Sugden Regional Park, Naples, Florida, November 6 -7, to participate
in the first annual, "We Gotta Regatta," a regatta designed
to be totally inclusive, with everyone on an equal playing field - regardless
of physical or mental challenges.
Full of energy, determination and anticipation, the forty-four sailors
arrived Saturday morning ready to board their individual boats and start
competing. The weather was exceptional with great wind and a few surprising
puffs. Sixteen colorful Access Dinghies, both 2.3's and 303's, were individually
brought to the dock for loading, some utilized the lift, others just eagerly
climbed in. And, off they went.
All the sailors took to the water to show off their skills, enjoy some
competition, and have a great deal of fun. And, that they did, indeed.
On the water, they enjoyed two days of sailing. Off the water, there were
evening gatherings and an emotionally joyous awards ceremony. Tradewinds
Foundation and Collier County Parks and Recreation thanks all those who
participated by sailing in the regatta, the numerous volunteers, the Collier
County Parks and Recreation Staff that came in droves to assist, and all
of the generous sponsors. Everyone is looking forward to next year's "We
Gotta Regatta!"
For full results contact Debby
Frenkel
(Return to Index)
9. Sailor Profile - Cedric Casadi (France)
I am 22 years old and I live in the city of Lyon (France). I started
sailing when I was 7 years old because the father of my best friend was
a sailor. He had a 14 meter boat. My friend and I started the sailing
on the " Optimiste " That is me in the picture below. After
that I sailed on other and bigger boats. After the Optimiste I sailed
on the X4 and I sailed three years on 420 and Hobie 16 as well as other
boats with my friend.
But when I was 13-14 years old it started to be difficult to sail because
my disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 3 has atrophied my legs and it
was very difficult to move in all boats tested. That is why I stopped
sailing. (For more information about SMA - www.fsma.org)
In 2002 I saw an Access Dinghy 2.3 at an exhibition of adapted equipment
for handicapped persons. I decided to try this boat and I adopted it.
After the 2.3, I tried the 303 and the Liberty. Unfortunately we don't
have the Liberty in our club. Normally, I sail on a lake but when I tried
the Liberty it was on Atlantic Ocean and that was very, very exciting.
I tried another adapted boat, the Triak. It is a very good boat. My favorite
boats are the Triak and the Liberty, but we haven't got these boats near
my city. I like sailing because I like the water and the speed…..
and for the speed, the wind is less expensive than the fuel!
I have the competitive spirit. I like racing but I haven't got many competitors.
I hope that I'll be able to go to Italy for the international regatta.
Cedric's
early sailing career - in his Optimiste, aged 7.
10.
Sailor Profile - Allister Peek (Australia)
Thirty-one year old Allister Peek is an invalid pensioner with an
intellectual disability and passion for sailing. His hobbies include sailing
and harness driving, attending all the agricultural shows on the East
Coast of Australia
Sailing Competition: Access Dinghy 2.3 - Division 1
Since leaving school in 1992, Allister has been unable to secure continuing
employment and currently assists at a local stable grooming, mucking out
and preparing harness horses for shows and competition.
Sailability
is ……… for me: Having a great time. Going to all sorts
of places…especially Osaka in Japan in 2002 and meeting friends.
The Japanese sailors have come to our Nationals in Australia. Going to
Penrith, Tathra and Wallagoot Lake racing and to Narooma and Belmont.
When we went to Tathra one year it rained and our tent leaked and we got
wet. It rained at our last Nationals in Belmont as well… all a part
of a fun weekend. Thanks God.
I enjoy competitions and racing like the Nationals 'cause everyone is
friendly and help each other…and it doesn't matter where they come
from. In Canberra we now sail on Sundays and Tuesdays at Lake Tuggeranong
and I like to get there early to help set up. I enjoy our "Come'n'Try"
days and teaching new people to sail.
Since joining Sailability I've now got my TL3 Power Boat Licence. Some
'able bods failed but I passed on my first try in the TL3 exam. Lucky
for me the exam was not written as I'm not very good at reading and writing.
I like to operate the safety boat but I don't hoon. Last year I helped
save some kids and their parents when their trailer sailer they were on
capsized and sank and the kids couldn't swim. I was the first person there
to help them. I'm proud of that.
Back in 1994 I did 10 days on "Young Endeavour". It was a great
challenge when I climbed to the topsail yard and I don't like heights.
I also like to go ocean sailing with my dad and help bring the boat home
after a long ocean race.
Now that I sail well and have got lots of first places, I sail in Division
1 of the 2.3s and I sail against people like Peter Thompson our Paralympian.
At the Canberra Australia Day Regatta, Peter came first in the 2.4mR division
and I came first in the Access Dinghy 2.3 division. I'm going to beat
him one day.
I really like sailing all boats but the best thing is that when I am racing
the 2.3, no one tells me what to do. I make the decisions. Sometimes I
get it wrong but most times I get it right and when I do, I win. My responsibility
and my decision. And as Dad says, that's Freedom on the Water.
(Return to Index)
11.
La Voile Ensemble - France
Marie-Claude Acker-Frotiee, Chairperson
Since the beginning of La Voile Ensemble, we have grown and there are
now twenty-three clubs across France. Our association was recognised by
the French Sailing Federation in May 2004.
The French Access Dinghy Championships are being held on 2-3 July at St.
Quentin en Yvelines which is near Paris. We invite sailors from other
countries to visit and sail with us. We are excited about the Single Person
Dinghy World's and Sabaudia's Cup in Italy and we hope to send two or
three sailors there to compete.
(Return to Index)
12. UD18 Update
Julian Bethwaite - Bethwaite Designs
Bethwaite Design has been delving into the realm of lead
assisted skiffs (LAS) for some years. Using a lot of the technology that
we have refined over the last 20 years and only recently fully understood,
we are applying that information and that ideology with some success.
Most notably, Libras in Germany, modifications to existing lead assisted
40 ft yachts here in Sydney, and most recently, the highly successful
Vivace (8m sports boat, soon to be re-launched as the 79er).
The
new UD18 is the latest in this trend and we expect it to perform with
all the aplomb that we pride ourselves on achieving. The UD18 is, as is
the case of all Billoch/Bethwaite designs a team effort; Julian taking
a extensive brief from Chris Mitchell, then working with Martin Billoch
(Buenos Aries) and Martin Mok (Sydney) both of whom are Naval Architects.
The design evolved to be a 5.5m LAS, capable of carrying weight whilst
maintaining a high level of performance and control, keeping the cost
down and incorporating a range of interesting features that should allow
easy stacking/containerisation, simple maintenance and general ease of
use.
The
boat will be a challenge for able bodied sailors and dis-able sailors
alike. This boat has been designed from a performance basis, to offer
scintillating, crisp and snappy response to sailors regardless of their
ability/mobility. The rig is envisaged to be of a similar nature, utilising
again, the technology that has honed over the last 20 years and refined
and understood in the last five.
All in all, I think that the UD18 will offer a new and enlightened step
in small LAS or day sailor enjoyment by breaking free of the stigma that
surrounds them being buoyant corks, to something with a high level of
performance, while at the same time maintaining a level of control so
that the speed you go is totally dependant on how hard you push it.
Editor: UD = Universal
Design
(Return to Index)
13. Upcoming Events
2005
March 12-13
South Aust. Access Dinghy C'ship
Port Adelaide SailingClub
Port Adelaide, South Australia
April 9-13
Trans Tasman Masters Games
Grahamstown Dam, Port Setphens
Australia
Contact: Grahme Rayner
April 24-25
Western Australian Access Dinghy C'ships
Royal Perth Yacht Club
Perth, AUSTRALIA
Rachael Cox
April 30-May 1
NSW Access Dinghy Championships
Penrith Lakes, NSW
Australia
Ben Felton
June 9-11
RYA Sailability National Regatta
Weymouth, UK
July 2-3
French Access Dinghy C'ships
St Quentin en Yvelines near Paris
La Voile Ensemble
July 4-9
2005 Trapseat 16 World C'ships
Central Okanagan Sailing Association
Kelowna, British Columbia, CANADA
Gillian Thomson
August 6
Canadian Access Dinghy C'ships
Quinte Sailability
Quinte, Ontario
September 2-3
UK Access Dinghy Chapionships
Pitsford Reservoir, Northants
Northampton Sailability
October 1-10
2005 IFDS Single Person Dinghy
World C'ships
San Felice Circeo, Italy
October 9-14
10th Australian Masters Games
Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia & Adelaide Sailing Club
Contact Deidre Schahinger
2006
January (TBA)
Australian & International
Access Dinghy C'ships
Docklands Yacht Club
Melbourne AUSTRALIA
Sept (TBA)
FESPIC Games
Far East & Sth Pacific Disabled Games
Kuala Lumper, MALAYSIA
Contact Your National Paralympic
Committee
(Return to Index)
Copyright © Access Dinghies, 2002-2006