Archives

9th October 08

URGENT HELP NEEDED

DO YOU HAVE SOME SPARE TIME ON TUESDAY AFTERNOONS TO HAVE FUN SAILING AND HELP CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?

Sailors / Rescue Boat Operators / General Helpers URGENLY required. We need help on Tuesday afternoons to assist with a program of sailing for a group of autistic students.

Volunteers are needed to:
-   Set up and launch our Access 303 dinghies
-   Man the rescue boat (with appropriate license)
-   Man the pontoon and help sailors in and out of the dinghies
-   Sail the dinghies with one child passenger
-   Help pack up at the end of the day

Set up is at 12.00 noon and we should finish up at around 3.00 pm. The program begins 21st October 2008 and runs for 9 weeks.

Where: Dobroyd Aquatic Club, Henley Marine Drive, Rodd Point

Contact:    Peter Williamson
Mob: 0401 020 520
Tel: 9716 8824
Email:   petergwilliamson@netscape.net

1st October 08

Access 3.03's race at Dobroyd in November.

Bill Salmon has confirmed that discussions with the Dobroyd Aquatic Club, to race a fleet of access 3.03's in our very own race was sucessful and the date is set for Saturday 15th November 08.

"We are trying for 14 boats to race (as doubles) and we will be getting other Sydney based Sailability branches involved. The first thing we need to know is how many people we can get to come and have a go. When we have that info, the rest of the logistical stuff will be planned.
 
There are rules in racing, but leniency will be excercised for this one so that we have a fun race, not a squabbly one. (Maybe we can organise a demo derby crash and bash at a later date!)
 
So please answer early to give the organisers a fair go as well. Time really is of the escence. There's lots to get sorted even for one race.
 
After packing away, we have the availability of the club house for our use, so food and drink may well be a part of a social ending of the day.
 
With all hope, without hiccups, this will become a regular feature for those members keen to race a 3.03 access dinghy."
 
The nominal cost of entry is $10 per boat.

10 September 08

Welcome to the
New Summer Sailing Season
at Sailability Dobroyd.

We are having an early start so Sunday 14th is forecast to be warmer (23C) with an increasing chance of showers in the late afternoon.
The wind should be around 20kmph from the NNW.
Low tide is at 13:09 (the middle of the day) so watch out for groundings around lunch time.
 
The club will open at 10:00 this season.
We started earlier after the fire, because it took us longer to set up. Now it is quicker, we can go back to our original time. Sailing is usually better in the afternoons.
 
Mid-week volunteers needed
We are continuing our successful schools sailing projects during the week.
Holroyd sails on Wednesdays.
We are setting up Tuesday afternoon sailing for boys from Balmain Secondary College. The boys have Aspergers syndrome, which is a form of autism. Some of these kids enjoyed a sail with us on a Sunday last season. Their teacher has been involved with Sailability in Victoria previously.
If you are available, or know of anyone who could help, please contact Peter Williamson on 0401 020 520.
 
BBQ volunteers
Jenny will not be running the BBQ this season, so we are looking for some volunteers to man the BBQ.
Wayne will be organising the BBQ to start off the season on Sunday.
Please see Andrea or Kate on Sunday if you are willing to help.
 
See you there!
 
Rob
8382 9334 (W)
9874 3642 (H)
0416 144 141

9 September 08

The NSW Access Championships will be held at Lake Wallace from 21st to 23rd February 09

31 August 08

It was announced last night that Summer Racing with DAC will be every Saturday from 6th Dec 08 till 25th April 09

15 May 08

Last nights Committee Meeting decided on a date and time for the 2008 AGM

The Sailability Dobroyd AGM
will be held at
6pm at Burwood  RSL
Tuesday 12th August

Any members may attend and can put themselves forward for election to any position and may vote for any candidates.
Some long-serving committee members will not be standing again, so we are looking for new members to take over.
 
Committee meetings are held monthly and are limited to two hours.
We encourage any members to help us in the running of the club.
You can start as a General member and assist where you can.
 
Contact Wayne Teagle (president) 9713 2261 for more details. 

17 May 08

Access Dinghy Sailing Simulator

If you are available to help on Mondays with the Access Dinghy Sailing Simulator ay Royal Ryde Rehab, Please call Wayne on 9713 2261

The 1st session is on Monday 26th May at 1pm

12 July 08

Winter Racing with Dobryd Aquatic Club

Sailability members are invited to hone their racing skills in the DAC Winter Sailing Series.

We will be racing against sailors from DAC and other Sailability NSW branches who have been invited to join us.
 
What: We sail two-up in our 303s in a race together with Dobroyd Aquatic Club members in their various types of boats.
 
Where: We race from our base at Dobroyd Aquatic Club, Rodd Point, via Henley Marine Drive, Five Dock
 
When: The first Saturday of the month between May and August 2008.
 
Start Time: 1 pm
 
Cost: $10 fee per race day.
 
Contact: Wayne Teagle  9713 2261

15 April 08

Nominations for the National Disability Awards 2008

Awards are now open!

Disability Sports Unit, Australian Sports Commission

If you have made, or know someone who has made, a significant contribution to their community, either at a local, regional, state or national level, nominate them for the National Disability Awards 2008.

There are five award categories:
• Community Contribution Award - Person with disability who has made a significant contribution to their community (no age limit)
• Young Community Contribution Award - Young person with disability who has made a significant contribution to their community (aged between 12 and 25 years)
• Inclusion Award - Person who has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people with disability (no age limit)
• Go Getter Award - Young person who has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people with disability (aged between 12 and 25 years)
• Personal Achievement Award - Person, either with disability or caring for someone with disability, who has overcome adversity to achieve personal goals

Nominate today - entries close on Friday 9 May.
For more info visit http://www.idpwd.com.au/awards.asp

20 March 08

Sunday 16 March was anauspicioussailing day for Sailability Dobroyd with the naming and launch of two new Access 303 dinghies.

The dinghies named "Integrity" and "Olympic Spirit" were generously donated to to the Dobroyd Branch on behalf of the David Henning Memorial Foundation.

Mrs Glennis Henning, VicSaragozza(Commodore), Wayne Teagle (President) and Mr Keith Henning

6 December 07

Information from from Graeme Adam

PR Sailability NSW/Australia

Dear Sailability branches in greater Sydney and adjacent centres,

The well-known media charity Variety Club is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for a child who is a sailor with Sailability AND his/her carer to sail as passengers on the legendary Sydney to Hobart winner maxi Skandia in one of Sydney’s biggest yacht racing events:

SOLAS Big Boat Challenge

Tuesday 11 December 2007

Start point: CYCA Rushcutters Bay

Course: Sydney Harbour

Arrival: Be at CYCA at 11am. Boat should be at the dock before 4pm

(All above information subject to confirmation)

• The member should be no older than 18 on the date of the event ie any date up to his/her 19^th birthday
• He/she should be comfortable with being part of a full-on fast and furious yacht race.
• There are no special harnesses or seats on the yacht, so the young person should be able to sit in the yacht without any support or assistance for around 3 hours. Some of this time will be taken up with the actual race.
• The young person and the carer are not required to be active members of the crew.
• All insurance matters are covered by the organizers.
• The young person and their carer or guardian should be agreeable to photo or filming opportunities with the media.
• As SNSW PR, I would be happy to take dockside photos for supply to the young person and for use in SNSW publicity.

Now the tough part. This incredible invitation has been passed on to SNSW early this afternoon. For me to work through each branch by phone to find a member and family who would commit to this would take a till the end of the week and also be an unfair way of giving each branch as equal a chance as possible. So this email is going to each branch at the same time. I have sent the email to at least two contacts at each branch in case one is away or incommunicado.

The first branch who can nominate a member who satisfies the above criteria and his/her carer and is prepared with reservation to take up this offer will the two people whose names and details are supplied to Variety Club. All arrangements from then on will be between family and the organizers.

Please don’t contact me with a nomination which  is a “maybe”. But if you have any questions, certainly give me a call on 0423 741 681.

Sorry to sound so Bolshie, but the very short notice makes it unavoidable.

Kind regards

Graeme Adam

PR Sailability NSW/Australia

PS For more information of the race, go to www.cyca.com.au and then click on SOLAS Big Race

16 November 07

Correspondence from Rob Domone

We are sailing on Sunday from 0930 as usual.

It should be a warm day (27C) with wind from the NE at about 12kts, so should be perfect. Please put sun screen on and bring a hat!

Low tide is at 0734
High Tide is at 1400

Experienced volunteers are asked to show newcomers how to operate safely and pass on their knowledge. We are expecting some more new volunteers from Maersk. Introduce yourselves and make them feel at home.

Wayne also asked me to remind everyone that we are there to help sailors sail to the best of their ability. It is very easy to just take some people for an 'armchair sail'. I know that I have done this myself. Please encourage sailors to do as much as they can. While some sailors are unable to participate, others are at least able to steer or handle a rope.

Balmain Secondary College sailors
Paul Tayler and Steve Morris have been very successful with our mid-week sailing program for disabled school children from Holroyd Special School. Other schools want to participate, but this depends on having more volunteers and possibly sailing on another day. On Sunday four children and parents from Balmain will be coming with their teacher (Chris Parry-Okeden), who has had previous contact with Sailability. We want to put them all on the water at the same time and take some of the parents on the rescue boat, to give them a feel for the way we operate. Please assist in giving them a fun day at Dobroyd.

New Boats
The two new 303s are due at the end of November. When putting the boats away, please leave space for the two new 303s near the main roller door. We hope to get them delivered on a Wednesday, so that the schools volunteers can help to unload. The delivery is being done for free, saving us about $1000, so be nice to the delivery people if you are there!

Storage of PFDs
We have some extra PFDs from Holroyd school sailing. The existing racks are falling apart. We need to store these PFDs in a different way. Suggestions have been new racks or open-weave bags that can be hung up.
Please give us your ideas on Sunday.

Saturday racing with DAC
The monthly race with DAC is on-going. The next race is on Saturday 17th. There is a 3pm start with a BBQ afterwards. We currently have three crews. If any more volunteers are available, feel free to help get boats in and out, or see Wayne to arrange to race with someone.

Christmas Party with DAC

This year's party will be on Saturday 15th December at the club. Starting at 5:30pm,

Because of space, Sailability will be limited to the first 40 people. So first in best dressed!
Cost is $20 per adult.
$12 for children 12 years and under.
This covers your food and entertainment. BYO if you wish. Drinks available at the bar.

If you wish your child to recieve a present from Santa, please supply a wrapped gift with your childs name on it so Santa will know who to give the gift to. Santa is due to arrive around 6pm.

Please see Dale Williams by December 2nd with your money.
You can call Dale to reserve a place on 9484 7026.

Note: Parking on the day will be a problem as it is a normal sailing day for DAC and parking will be limited. Some spaces will be kept available but nothing can be promised. Simply being dropped off at the gate would be appreciated.

See you on Saturday

Rob Domone
8382 9334 (W)
9874 3642 (H)

Balmain Sailing Club in support of
Dobroyd Sailability’s School Sailing Program.

All members are invited to attend and support this event. We are entering two crews in the open dinghy race at midday.

We will be answering questions about our boats and the school sailing program (Paul Taylor and Steve Morris are our representatives from the Wednesday schools' sailing day). We also hope to encourage sailors from local clubs to come along mid-week to help with the schools program.Come if you can. Wear your Sailability shirt if possible. Have a sail and enjoy the day.

Sailability Rushcutters will there with two 24ft Salvos and we have been invited to go for a sail with them if we want to.

There will be local press and the ABC covering the regatta and giving us good PR.

Balmain Sailing Club is in Water Street, Balmain.
This is a fairly steep street. Parking will be difficult. You may have to drop people off and park further away.
There is a disabled lift about 25 metres to the west of the club. This takes you down to the park below.
You can access the front deck of the club from the park. There is level access from there to the clubhouse.
 There are three large wooden steps from the top deck to the lower deck. There is then a gangway down to a large floating pontoon, where our boats will be tied up.

They are supporting us. We should try to support them and spread the word.
 
See you there!
 
Rob Domone

Razette tal-Hbiberiji, the Malta-based Disability Sports Organisation has ordered a 303 Access Dinghie  to start their sailing program. Best wishes to all who may enjoy its use.

www.razzett.org

Sunday 4th February was a triple event day for Sailability Dobroyd at its Rodd Point sailing venue. A large crowd of sailors, family and friends firstly witnessed the official naming of each one its fleet of eight Access dinghies, which have been progressively acquired since the disastrous fire in April 2005. This has been possible through the very generous support of many individuals and organisations, several of whom were present and
recognised in President Wayne Teagle's speech.

Next, Bruce Collins QC, as President of the Primary Club of Australia, handed over a special Access 303 dinghy which is equipped for solo sailing by extremely disabled sailors. Their donation was complemented with the addition of a dedicated inflatable support craft.  Shane Lee, former NSW and Australian cricketer, appropriately named these two craft "Howzat" and "Golden Duckie" in recognition of the Primary Club's cricketing membership.

The day was also marked with a special  presentation to five retiring stalwarts of the club, who since inauguration of the Dobroyd branch over ten years ago, have operated a BBQ on sailing days. In addition to feeding the faithful, their efforts raised funds for the purchase of "Jack". a 2.3 Access dinghy. Vice President Paul Tayler made presentations and thanked them profoundly for the dedication.

DOBROYD AQUATIC CLUB
RISES FROM THE ASHES

After a devastating fire destroyed the Dobroyd Aquatic Club at Five Dock in May 2005, the new DAC clubhouse was opened on Saturday, 18th November. Beautiful spring weather encouraged some 300 friends and supporters of DAC and Sailability to celebrate the official opening. Speakers included Angelo Tsirekas, Mayor of Canada Bay; Angela D'Amore State MP; DAC Club President, Peter Wrigley; Sailability President Wayne Teagle and DAC Patron Stan Burnicle.

Through the tireless efforts of the Building Committee, the new clubhouse is an outstanding example of Universal Design, with accessibility considering members who have mobility difficulties with ramps, internal elevator, two wheelchair accessible bathrooms as well as a new wider balcony that accommodates tables and chairs. The spectacular harbour views have not changed.

Eleven years ago, when DAC established strong links with the newly established Sailability Dobroyd, members of DAC brokered new ground in the world of sailing, with the inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities. Saturday demonstrated that this strong and cohesive community is flourishing. While the clubhouse is just bricks and mortar, it is the focal point that brings everyone together in a unified force of kindred spirits.

September 06

Hi Everyone,
We  are nearly in business again. Arrived back from Melbourne today after an incident-free journey with this initial shipment of goodies.

The load was two 303s, one electric 2.3, c crane, shore shuttle, keel caddie, and keel lifter. I will probably return for four more 2.3s in two weeks time.I have attached our program for non-committee recipients.

Mike
PS Yes Vic, you may put these pics on your website (and Doboryd's too)!

 Dear Nabil,
 
I thought you and you members would be interested to learn of our progress and how we expect to be sailing again in a few weeks time. In addition to the very generous donation from the Canada Bay Club, we received a great many other donations from people far and wide, including a DAC member of the early 1940s now residing on the NSW north coast. Consequently we have been able to proceed with the purchase of replacement Access dinghies, lifejackets and a myriad of special equipment needed for our disabled sailors in particular. On the shore facilities side, that section of the DAC clubhouse decking which enabled wheelchair access to our pontoon, is currently being rebuilt with the tacit approval of the council, ahead of the DA being approved. We also have two shipping containers for storage now located on Rodd Point, which were supplied for a token price by P&O. Also, an accessible toilet/washroom facility has been offered free of charge by On Site Rentals for as long as we need it. Earlier this week I collected the first three (see pic with designer and builder of the Access dinghies, Chris Mitchell) of our replacement dinghies from the Dandenong factory, and in two weeks time will collect further four. We are most grateful to you and many others who have helped us get back on our feet again. Very soon those brightly coloured sails of ours will once again be seen on the waters of Iron Cove.
With kind regards
 Yours sincerely
 Mike Cuming
 Sailability Dobroyd

______________________________________________

20 July 05
2005 YACHTING AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Jackie Kay, one of the stalwarts of the Sailability movement, will receive an award for services to yachting at Yachting Australia’s 2005 Australian Yachting Awards to be held at a gala event on 6th August in Melbourne.

L-R: David Staley, Don Scott & Paul Borg

Sailability Dobroyd’s vision impaired sailor, Don Scott, has just returned from a week’s sailing on the Mediterranean at Imperia, Italy. Crewing a “Meteor” yacht with helmsman Paul Borg from Victoria, the pair represented the Australian Blind Sailing Association in the Homerus Blind World Sailing Championships. This was a match race series against teams from Canada, Israel and Switzerland, along with five Italian teams.  Competition extending over four days around courses defined by audible “beeping” marker buoys. In addition, each of the two competitor yachts had audible indications of being on either port or starboard tack. Along with the two sailors, each yacht carried a sighted umpire, whose role was a safety and avoidance of any collision.

Don and Paul won all eight of their races, to become clear winners in the series. Such was their lead in most of the races, that the Israelis protested that Paul must be sighted!  So he wore a blindfold in the race against them and romped home again! Touche!

The Homerus system of racing for blind/vision impaired sailors of IBSA classification B1 or B2 has been successfully developed by the Italians, and this was the third international series in which Don has competed.  He had previously been in the winning team with a different helmsman.  The Aussie team was well supported by Manager/Coach David Staley. Well done Don!

Our photos shows that “winners are grinners”, left to right David, Don and Paul.

______________________________________________

4 April 2005

Dobroyd Aquatic Club burned to the ground    
Mon 4 Apr 2005

'Dobroyd Aquatic SC no more' by Mike Cumming

Members of Sydney’s Dobroyd Aquatic Club looked on in disbelief early yesterday morning (Sunday April 3), as fire investigators examined the surrounds of the still smouldering wreckage of their club to try to determine what caused the building to burn down.  The collapsing building was still far too dangerous to be entered.

The club, at Rodd Point, Iron Cove, was burned to the ground in a fire which is believed to have started in the early hours of the morning.  Although fire investigators have released no conclusions, it seems likely the fire was deliberately lit.  It is believed someone may have forced entry to the building in the early hours of the morning before the fire started.

Along with the club, about seventy boats and sailboards belonging to members were destroyed. The club has the largest fleet of racing sailboards in Sydney and strong, Laser, Heron and Sabot fleets as well as smaller numbers of other off the beach craft such as 125s.  Many of the Sabots destroyed were Club boats used in their extremely popular children’s sailing program. A large number of training sailboards were also destroyed.

Other craft reduced to ash were a fleet of Access dinghies used by Sailability which shares the club’s facilities. The Club has been very supportive of Sailability for some years.

The heat of the fire apparently also melted the club’s aluminium rescue boats as well as destroying one near-new rigid inflatable rescue boat. Boats and equipment were stored on the lower level of the building.

The waterfront club had only last year commissioned a lift built to give handicapped sailors access to the second level clubroom. This was also destroyed in the fire.

Club President, Stuart Long, said he was sure Club members and the local Drummoyne area community would rally around to ensure the club was rebuilt with improved facilities. He pointed out that the club was not only used by the sailing fraternity, but by other community groups as well, most notably Sailability.

Right now, many members are wondering how they are going to sail the winter season program which starts on Sunday May 1.

With more than a dozen racing sailboards and lots of sailboard gear lost in the fire, boardsailors have sent out an SOS for gear, particularly for Mistral one design and Windsurfer one design boards, sails and gear.

Former club President and Life Member, Stan Burnicle, believes the Club will soon rise from the ashes. He remembers the club being started back in 1939 at Dobroyd Point, Haberfield. It eventually had to move to make way for the original Dobroyd Parade Bridge across the Hawthorne drainage channel to Lilyfield  The club then operated from a tent at Rodd Point until members raised money to build the clubhouse in 1964. It looks like it’ll be back to the tent for the 2005-06 summer season.

*Adrian Herbert is a Dobroyd member who was one of those who lost his sailboard in the fire. He is also editor of Offshore sailing magazine.

by Adrian Herbert

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