Sailability kicks-off again this Wednesday, 9 October 2024. During the break, our volunteers have been engaged in various activities in preparation for the new season. The following are some updates of what has been happening:

Safety is of paramount importance to Sailability at SoPYC, and unfortunately it often is not cheap.   Our wheelchair participants are hoisted into our vessels using C cranes from the finger jetties, located near the Western Hardstand.  Inspection of the jetty mounts for these cranes highlighted that their safety could significantly be improved with some engineering works.   It may not be noticeable to most members, but the under-deck mounts (made that way so as not to inconvenience SoPYC members) have been strengthened and made much safer.  For this we owe thanks to Griffiths Engineering who designed and built the new mounts.  Gary Griffiths is the Chairman of Sailability at RPYC and this cooperation is the start of what we hope, a much closer tie to our sister disabled sailing organisation.  Thank you, Gary.

We have also purchased, at significant cost, a new specially designed jetty crane to safely speed up the embarkation and disembarkation of our wheelchair participants.  We expect this will lead to much needed improvements in our efficiency each week.

None of these and other works would be possible without our three biggest sponsors, Healthways WA, Rotary Club of Melville, and Sailability WA, all who have made significant contributions over the last month. Thank you.

The state government’s Healthways Act Belong Commit program provides us with operational funding for maintenance, annual safety inspections and other operational costs.

Rotary Club of Melville has been supporting Sailability SoPYC since its inception and you will note several of our fleet bear the name of prominent Rotarians.  We owe the existence of our program to Rotary’s generosity.

Sailability WA also provided our group with a large donation from the proceeds of their 2023 Finding Freedom fundraiser.  We would like to thank Sailability WA for this donation and to encourage our SoPYC members to participate in their next event.  For SoPYC members who attended the last event and made this donation possible… Thank you.

Sailability WA also recently held a safety training course at RPYC, where four of our committee members attended, along with another very active SoPYC volunteer.  Our group took away several great ideas for improving safety of our operations, which we will pass on to other volunteers at our weekly startup briefings before each session.

We would also like to thank all volunteers who attended last week’s (and previous other) maintenance day, which helped set us up for another successful season of allowing less abled sailors to enjoy the sport we are passionate about.

Sailability is always looking for volunteers between 9am and 12.30pm on Wednesday mornings.  To volunteer, you don’t have to commit to coming every week, although it makes rostering easier if you can, and you don’t have to have any special skills, as training will be provided.  We have various roles; skippering and crewing on the dinghies, yachts and powerboats, land-based roles on the jetty, in the meet-and-greet area and for other onshore roles.  Just as fulfilling as helping out, it is a really fun way to spend Wednesday mornings with a group of likeminded passionate volunteers.  If you are able to spare some time, please contact our coordinator Liz Warman on or on 0401 111 134.