A new club was to be started on Albert Park Lake (around which the Melbourne
Grand Prix track runs) and after talking to the boat builders in Dandenong,
I was asked to develop a website for the Victorian "Sailing for Everyone"
organisation and was made part of the committee to get the club up and
running at Albert Park. It ran as Sailing for Everyone till early 1999
when we decided to move to St Kilda pier. Now we have a club at Docklands
for four years that should become our permanent home, with four 2.3s,
one 303 double seat and one Liberty single seat along with a rubber duckie
safety boat. I have really been enjoying the sailing I have done as it is very relaxing
when conditions are mild and quite physically taxing when the wind picks
up. The Access 2.3 is 2.3 metres long, quite cute and very easy to sail
with only a mainsheet and a joystick controlled rudder to worry about.
With a weighted keel and a seat very low down inside the hull, tipping
over is barely possible so they are perfect for people with disabilities.
There are even servo controlled models that can be steered and the sail
adjusted all from an electric joystick. The 303 is 3.03 metres long, has a main and forsail and is a more challenging
boat. I've sailed the 303 in competition since 2000. Now I have a Liberty
prototype, donated by Kangan Batman TAFE (where I work) that is 3.6 metres
long and a real fun boat to sail. I raced raced in the Liberty
Worlds in 2004 in a competition Liberty yacht sponsored by the Docklands Authority. The new main is taller and shorter in the foot and
the forsail has more shape. I had intended to sail in the Australian Championships in Canberra in
February 1998 but a broken hip from waterskiing two weeks before stopped
that. However I did sail on 5 March 1998 as part of the Australian Grand Prix
Sailing Regatta. It was only a demonstration event but the three new design
Access 303s were launched that day. In February 1999, I went up to Canberra to sail a 303 in the Australian
championships. A great time was had by all those two days. I can't say
I sailed well but someone had to come last! The Access 303 is 3.03 metres long with both a jib and main and a larger
cockpit. They sail really well with one person and have the pointing and
speed that the 2.3 lacks. They also take two large adults with ease and
handle rough water and high wind speed better. I have a wonderful time sailing the 303, as do all the others who try
them. The Liberty is a totally new yacht with its single seat, high sides that allow it to heel to over 45 degrees yet still stay dry. Mine has full electric servos that seer it and winch in and out the main and foresail independently or together, all via a small joystick. See my story "Wind and Waves". My aim for 2005 is to compete in the Liberty World Championships in Subaudia Italy (about 100 kms south of Rome on the Mediteranian) in October 2005.
Sailing
See also Colin's Sailing History.
Late in 1995, I went to a disability expo
that had these small sailboats being demonstrated on the river in front
of the Expo venue in Melbourne. After trying one there, I decided that
this could be an interesting pastime.
My dog Gizmo goes sailing in good weather and I have even built
him his own life jacket. It is not just a floatation device, but also
provides a handle to pick him up should he ever fall overboard.
In February 2000, I again competed in the 303 class, which is open, against
ten others whose disabilities ranged from non disabled people, through paraplegics, lower
limb amputees, and a mild cerebral palsy, to me as the only quadriplegic.
I fared much better and placed in the middle of my class. In subsequent years I competed in State, National and World competitions
gaining 10th of 22 in the 2003 National 303 class (highest of any with any hand disability), 3rd in 303 in Victorian titles in 2002, 2nd in 303 in 2004 Victorian and 1st Servo Liberty, 2nd overall Liberty and 1st International at the 2004 Nationals, 2nd Liberty and 1st Servo at 2005 Victorian titles and fourth in the 2004 Single Person IFDS
Worlds.
The Access 303
