During June, Australia’s largest state-based inclusive sailing network, Sailability NSW Inc (SNSW), celebrated the 30th Anniversary of giving everyone the opportunity to participate in the sailing community, regardless of ability. Like almost all 70+ Sailability branches across Australia, Sailability NSW is entirely volunteer run.
At a 30th Anniversary dinner at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, some 120 guests from 25 branches across NSW celebrated the milestone. The following day, a conference was held with 70 branch representatives participating. Branch members from across the state who had completed 10, 20 or 30 years were presented with commemorative recognition-of-service pins.
More than a dozen Sailability alumnae were invited to participate, in recognition of their years of dedicated service. These included Denis Critchley, president of the first Sailability branch, in Gosford, Chris Mitchell of Hansa Systems, which supplies all the universal-design sailboats, and outstanding competition sailors Wendy Evans, Lindsay and Maria Dalmon and Maryanne Ireland.
Above: Lindsay & Maria Dalmon, Allan Jones and Henry Zylmans at Liberty launch RPAYC 2007.
A more recent sailor, Ame Barnbrook, member of the Paralympian sailing team, was a guest, as well as NSW MP Liesel Tesch AM, Paralympic medallist.
Also present were Peter Wrigley, who opened up the possibilities for disabled sailors at Dobroyd Aquatic Club, Neil Anderson (SNSW director and former SNSW president) and Paul Tayler (treasurer). Neil and Paul, from 1996, worked tirelessly to establish and grow Sailability NSW. The pair were two of only a handful of recipients of the 30-year pin. Neil was also Chair, for its duration, of the committee of Sailability Australia, facilitated by Australian Sailing, with member Graeme Adam, Sailability’s publicity officer from 2004 to 2018.
The agenda and speaker line- up was of a high standard. Specialist speakers included Michael Arico on boat insurance, Tim Micninson from Sailability Victoria on sailing simulators, Niall Powers with news from Australian Sailing, and Dr Steven Wilson on parasailing.
Sailability NSW speakers included Chair and MC, Clare Archer who spoke on the new vision and values statement, Neil Anderson on 30 years of fund-raising, Jason Elwes (Training Coordinator) and John Sanderson (Assistant Training Officer) on developments in training, and SNSW president John Price on Learning to sail though headset visual effects.
Some of the top performing branches shared new ways of doing things that have improved the sailing experience for participants, many with no prior skills. Before the close, the conference broke into groups to brainstorm the best ways ahead.
According to President John Price, the association is stronger than ever and ready to face new challenges. “We have a new vision statement: ‘Remove all barriers and provide opportunities for everybody to sail, regardless of ability, to participate in the NSW sailing community’. Inclusion remains a challenge, and we want to work with all sailing bodies to remove the last vestiges of exclusion.”
Sailability is affiliated with Australian Sailing.
Report by Graeme Adam
Sailability Pittwater - Profile
Sailability Pittwater is a not-for-profit volunteer-based branch of Sailability NSW offering recreational sailing activities. Sailability Pittwater operates from Rowland Reserve in Bayview on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, fortnightly, from September to May.
Our fleet of uniquely designed two-seater sailing dinghies are a safe, stable and easy to sail craft that cannot tip over and can be used by people of all ages and abilities. Our recreational program enables our participants to experience freedom on the water, sailing one on one with an experienced sailor, in a safe and welcoming environment.
All enquiries: pittwatersailability@gmail.com
Volunteers: You don’t have to be a sailor to be a volunteer, all are welcome. Because we are working with disabled adults and children all volunteers must be fully vaccinated against Covid 19 unless they have a valid medical exemption. Volunteers must obtain a Working with Children Check from the Office of Children’s Guardian (ocg.nsw.gov.au).
Sailability Crystal Bay - Profile
Crystal Bay Sailability is the integrated Alfred Community Sailing Sailability squad based at the Royal Price Alfred Sailing Club. We are an actively supportive group of variously able sailors and volunteers who sail HANSA Class Sailing Dinghies and Skiffs. Our Fun and competitive spirit is underpinned by the Volunteers and Supporters both current and past. We pay the deepest respect to the Nations, Lands, Waters and Sky of our environment and their past present and future Leaders and Custodians.
We welcome all those who have faced adversity and choose to sail into their future together…
Although, when there are two sailors there will undoubtedly be a race.
Hansa Class is recognised by Australian Sailing
About Hansa - Australian Hansa Class Association
Sailability NSW 30th Celebration cake photo, Sailability Pittwater and Sailability Crystal Bay photos courtesy Allan Jones, Sailability NSW and by A J Guesdon/PON
Early days at BYRA sailing Access 2.3
John Brogden (& son), Mayor Harvey Rose & John McCausland at official opening of shed in Pittwater Council Compound, Rowland Reserve, November 2009
Sailability Crystal Bay members and volunteers at April 2014 launch. Photo: A J Guesdon/PON