Communities don’t exist without volunteers and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all our volunteers who supported our 2023/2024 Summer Sailing season with on-water, on-jetty, on-shore support, on our committees and so much more during the summer sailing season. Thank you also to RPYC who continue to host us from Crawley.
A very special thanks goes out to Rachael Cox, our dedicated Program Coordinator, who manages our programs, always keeping an eye on the weather, posting lots of fun photos on our Facebook page, ensuring boat maintenance is completed in a timely manner, making sure participants are offered the opportunity to sail with us and coordinating our volunteer roster. Rachael does an incredible job and we all appreciate her dedication.
I would also like to extend our thanks to everyone who has provided a donation to support Sailability WA following our recent campaign. Your support is greatly appreciated to assist us in providing our supported sailing programs for people with disabilities, of all abilities.
With warmest regards,
Gary Griffiths | President | Sailability WA
Congratulations to our 2024 Award Recipients!
At our post-season Volunteer Morning Tea in May we were delighted to award two of our trophies to worthy recipients!
With thanks to the Dare family and awarded annually, the Rob Dare Memorial Trophy is presented to a person that has been deemed by the SWA Committee to have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing for people with disabilities.
Congratulations Graeme Brown
The Rob Dare Memorial Trophy was presented to Graeme Brown, who dedicated many hours to develop a single-handed servo control to enable Alan Perkins to sail solo in the ‘Rob Carter’ Hansa Liberty. This included a seating assessment, installing trunk stability in the seat, as well as technical development work with a port side hand controller to trim and steer the boat with the servo’s installed in the boat.
Congratulations Bruce Meakins
Our Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Bruce Meakins. After sustaining a shoulder injury mid-season and determined to be active during his recovery, Bruce provided great assistance to Rachael with onshore support during our Wednesday programs.
Congratulations to you both and thank you for your dedication and continued support!
Get your tickets to Finding Freedom 2024
Following on from the success of Finding Freedom 2023 we are very excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for this year’s event. By popular demand, we’re bringing back the same formula that makes this event one not to be missed.
The Finding Freedom Cup will be a thrilling highlight and we’ll have another amazing lineup of auction items thanks to Fisher and Paykel. You’ll have the opportunity to take home some great prizes. Plus, you can help us christen the 303 dinghys we purchased, thanks to funds raised at last year’s event.
Last year we sold out, so don’t wait to book your tickets. Gather a table of friends together and get ready for an awesome afternoon! Book your table today!
‘Lost at See’ are now in Siez, France!
Skipper, Kylie Forth (blind and amputee) and the ‘Lost of See’ Blind sailing team of jib trimmer Erin McGlew (blind) and main trimmer Eric Seery (vision impaired) are now in Sciez, France to compete in the 2024 World Blind Match Racing Championships, being held from 22 – 29 June. They are being coached and supported by Adam Brenz-Verca.
Kylie and Erin have competed in 9 blind sailing regattas together, and with Eric being newer to sailing, he has been working hard to learn as much as possible in a very short amount of time. Eric’s involvement has meant that the team has been able to enter the championships and has also increased the number of blind sailors in WA.
Read more about blind sailing and follow the team via facebook.
Bonding time whilst chatting about the Wildcats!
SWA member Keiran and our volunteer Ben, had a great time sailing together this Summer in a Hansa dinghy, chatting about the Wildcats. Earlier this year Ben managed to get his hands on a Wildcats shirt for Keiran which was signed by the team and gave it to Keiran as a birthday present.
Kieran was flabbergasted and over the moon to be given the shirt – so much so, that he wore it sailing. The bonds formed by sailing together extend much further than just on the boat.
Winter is here and our boat maintenance continues…
Our supported sailing program comes to a halt during Winter however work continues as we focus on boat maintenance and preparing for the busy Summer Season ahead. Thank you to Graham White for his assistance rejuvenating our Blind Sailing marks. The Audio components of the marks were refreshed with new batteries, thanks to volunteer Hunter Gillies. Thank you to volunteer Mario Corvino for helping to rethread and get the Light Blue mainsheet servo working and in top condition – it’s now ready to race in the RPYC Frostbite series!
All our keelboats will be lifted out of their water pens and given a new coat of Antifoul on their hull, in preparation for a lot of action in the Summer Season. In September we will hold a Busy Bee to get our fleet of Hansa 303’s Dinghies in top condition ready for Summer supported sailing events and sail training!
Winter season (June to September) hours of operation
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am to 3pm, by phone or email. In person appointments on site to be booked in advance.
Program Coordinator
Rachael Cox
Email: office@sailabilitywa.org.au
Phone: 0404 145 499
