SAILABILITY
Left Sailability’s role is to remove boundaries and make it easier to race.
M
idway through our conversation, as I’m asking about the benefits of racing for disabled sailors,
Joff McGill interrupts me. ‘Can I quickly say something?’ he asks. ‘As much as possible we talk about “sailors” rather than “disabled sailors” because everything we do is aimed at enabling people to grow their skills as sailors.’ Since 1993 the RYA’s Sailability
programme, of which Joff is manager, has been growing participation afloat. Whatever the disability or mental health issue, its network of sailing clubs and grassroots organisations can accommodate it. Among 200 or so affiliated organisations are deaf and blind specialists, clubs with hoists for sailors in wheelchairs and adapted boats, instructors with expertise in autism or severe anxiety. Around 1,800 sailors use the scheme each month, Joff says. If one element of Sailability is to
support sailors and clubs – offering advice, connecting clubs to tap into expertise nationwide – another is to promote competitive sailing. It may have been dropped from the Paralympics in
2016, but sailing at club, national and international level is thriving. And again, ability is no barrier. ‘We had a 15-year-old with autism
who was the helm of the boat. This was their first big event – they’d never done anything like it.’ Brett Cokayne, the Sailability developer, is talking about the RS Venture Connect World Championship, held at Rutland Water in September. ‘And there were experienced sailors like Allan Wall. He steers the boat with his chin – tapping a joystick with his chin left and right to steer while his crew, John Deane, pulls ropes.’ Allan took second place overall in his
class. Other UK winners included Jazz Turner and Adam Billany placed third in the Inclusive Class, and in the Para Class second place went to Rory McKinna and Chi Chain Wu. Brett, who says his role is ‘supporting
sailors to get into racing’, cites that inclusivity – novices alongside old-hands, disabled people sailing alongside non-disabled people in Inclusive – as one appeal of the RS Venture World event.
“Around 1,800 sailors use the RYA’s Sailability scheme each month”
rya.org.uk WINTER 2024 29
Above Both the Hansa and RS Venture Connect boats can be adapted so that people with different disabilities can sail, often together.
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