• International 2.4mRs (single-person ‘Paralympic class’ keelboats)
• Sonars (three-person ‘Paralympic class’ keelboats)
• Australian–designed Salvos (Payne 7.4s) (24’ 3-6 person keelboats)
• Flying 15s
• Hobie 16s with trapseats, but predominantly
• Access Dinghies - Breeze, 2.3, 303 and Liberty (Australian-designed, Melbourne-built)

Phil Vardy

Sailability is about community 
Reflecting on the first 10 years of Sailability in NSW has brought back so many fond memories. Seeing a profoundly disabled lass called Nava George strapped into her dinghy with ventilator, scared yet excited at the prospect of being the first ventilated quad in the world to sail by herself.

Seeing Lindsay and Maria Dalmon working together overcoming their differences and showing how love can overcome all. Standing on the shore in Canberra talking with the two of them about how strong the wind was and did they think it was too much for them? They just looked at me laughed and said “Why wouldn’t we go sailing?” I had been taught a lesson about life and constraints I put on people – these two are an inspiration to me.

Meeting Jackie Kay and witnessing how she was willing to take on the establishment and fight tooth and nail to create equality for sailors with a disability. So many stories. It’s been good to remember the fun times we’ve had. When I first became the first president at Sailability Dobroyd, I decided that having fun would be the basis of our operation. We’ve had lots of fun times over the last 10 years and it’s good to remind myself about them.

Sailability has been life altering for me – and my family. My mum and dad both turn 85 this year, yet they still go each fortnight to cook the “Sausage Sizzle” at Dobroyd. They count the members at Dobroyd as part of their extended family. They don’t sail, but Sailability is about a lot more than just sailing. It is about community. It’s about people coming together to have fun – all ages, all races, all abilities getting together to help each other have as much fun as they can.

My wife Barbara and I have had the honour of introducing the Sailability “concept” into Netherlands, France, Italy, Greece and Malaysia. Barbara has played a huge role in that process with her ability to engage people in the concept of stretching themselves.

I love seeing people stretching themselves and Sailability allows for that. People take on jobs that they hadn’t thought they could handle and surprise themselves with the results they achieve. It then allows them to take that feeling of success into other areas of their lives, and that can be life altering. Once a person is out sailing in an Access Dinghy they are “just” sailors. From the shore all you see is people having fun sailing together. It’s only when they return to shore that you become aware that some of those sailors have some form of a disability.

Last year, with support of Yachting Australia, Sailability NSW had a Vision Day to plan the future. From that, NSW has embarked on a program to attract more members and volunteers, to enlist more sailors to participate at their desired level and to gather commercial and community support. We are determined to achieve that vision.

Neil Anderson

My friend Bluey who is on my right was 53 years old when I first met him when I was recreation officer at Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Centre in 1995. He was born with cerebral palsy and was classed as spastic quadriplegic, so he could not use his arms or legs. Bluey also could not talk. We had become great friends. Just to put you in the picture, Bluey couldn’t do anything physical for himself. He sat in his wheelchair, needed someone to push him about, feed him and take him to the toilet - he couldn’t ask for help. Bluey communicated by sounds and facial expressions, sometimes people understood - often they did not.

In April, 1995, we put Bluey in a little sailing boat, just 7 foot long, on his own. Chris Mitchell, the designer and manufacturer of the Access dinghy, strapped an electric toggle under Bluey’s chin, and described to him the concept of sailing and how Bluey could steer the boat by pushing the toggle from side to side with his chin.

We knew Bluey was intelligent, but we didn’t know what level his cognitive skills reached. Minutes later, Bluey was sailing! Chris followed closely in another dinghy, giving instructions and ensuring he was safe. No one with such severe physical disabilities had ever sailed solo before. We watched with tears in our eyes and joy in our hearts - Bluey was sailing!

A month later, we go through the same process. Bluey’s parents are there to watch. Bluey’s boat was launched into the bay at Drummoyne. We call out “sail over here”. Bluey laughs, shakes his head and turns in the opposite direction. For the first time in his life he can decide where he wants to go, and get there on his own, make his own decisions on which direction to go in, to stay out sailing a bit longer or come back to shore. Bluey has freedom! Mum and Dad stood on the shore; their tears were flowing.

We decided to form a sailing club for people with disabilities. We formed Sailability Dobroyd. Bluey was the Commodore. He interacted in groups, was very verbal (in his fashion) on issues he feels strongly about and offered suggestions about the running of events. Being involved with Sailability meant a lot more than just sailing to Bluey - as monumental as that was to him.

He had a whole new life, new attitude, and new friends. Bluey was given the opportunity to socialise, interact with disabled and people. Bluey had the confidence in his ability to speak his mind, his self-esteem rocketed, his motivation spiralled upwards. Bluey was proud of his achievements – and so was I. (Footnote: Bluey lives at Shalom Nursing Home at Ryde, is happy and well and I visit him whenever possible.)
Jackie Kay

2005 - Yachting Australia awardee for services to yachting Jackie Kay with John Bertrand at awards night August 2005