Congratulations to Rachael Cox for coming 1st place para sailor in the Hansa Liberty fleet at the recent 2024 International Classes Regatta held at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on 7 and 8 December 2024!
It was also great to hear of the incredible achievements of Geneveive Wickham, taking out the Australian Para Sailor of the Year Award at the 2024 Australian Sailing National Awards, announced in Sydney in October.
Rod Angwin has been awarded Australian Hansa sailor, at the Australian Para Sailing Championships at Royal Brighton Yacht Club VIC.
The 2024/2025 Summer Sailing Season was off to a great start, running our first free Learn to Sail Program (with thanks to a grant from WADSA) for our members and their support person during the September school holidays.
In addition to our regular mid-week Supported Sailing Programs we have also held a few Sunday ‘Come and Try Sailing’ Days with KalAbility coming from Kalgoorlie in October, WADRA early November and two more days late November and early December open to all.
I would also like to express thanks to Rachael, our volunteers and committee who continue to provide great support to Sailability WA. A few of them gathered earlier today for lunch on the Nev Thomas II and a sail on the Derbal Yerrigan (see picture below).
With warmest regards,
Gary Griffiths | President | Sailability WA
Rachael Cox takes 1st place para sailor at the ICR Regatta
Written by Rachael Cox
The big weekend of boating and Hansa Liberty sailing all started on Friday 6th December when we towed two Liberties, the Rob Carter Liberty and Spirit of Ricardo, down the Swan River to Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. It was a lovely day for a trip down river and when arriving at RFBYC the support boat and both Liberties were tied up ready for the next day’s racing.
On Saturday boat rigging happened early at 8AM followed by competitor briefing then on the water for three races, a quick lunch break, then out on the water again for another three races in a strong S/Wly breeze. By the end of Saturday the battery power for the main servo was completely flat, however seemed to charge well overnight.
Sunday boat rigging started early at 8AM, and it was discovered the battery wasn’t operating the servo on the mainsheet. So after some quick thinking we took the servo out of the boat and re rigged the main sheet manually. The breeze finally filled in as a S/Wly late morning and racing was close between the top 4 competitors. After all races has been completed we headed back to RFBYC to pack up and get ready to tow up river to RPYC. While JP and Bethia, my support person, towed two Liberties back to RPYC I had some time to chat and attend presentations, securing 2nd place overall in the Liberty fleet and 1st para sailor. It was great to brush off my racing skills and have some top sailors to race against.
Thanks to Sailability WA for the loan of the Rob Carter Liberty and the RIB, to support 3 members sailing in this regatta. Also a big thank you to JP and Bethia for their assistance, I could not have done it without you!
Geneveive Wickham awarded Australian Para Sailor of the Year
SWA is proud to support Genevieve Wickham, to enable her to compete in inclusive classes of sailing to become an international sailing champion.
Genevieve started her sailing experiences right here on the Derbal Yerrigan as part of our Supported Sailing Program.
Genevieve’s dedication to the sport and her achievements at world championships in the RS Venture, have been recognised at the Australian Sailing National Awards, being crowned Australia’s Para Sailor of the Year 2024. Congratulations Genevieve, this is such an incredible achievement for you!
Rod Angwin has been representing Western Australia, interstate
Rod has just completed a round trip of a number of sailing events on the east coast of Australia. Starting with the Asia Pacific regatta at the South Port Yacht Club on the Gold Coast in October, followed up by Sail Melbourne regatta in November in Victoria, then back to WA.
Wow that’s a lot of sailing and time racing in the Hansa Liberty fleet! As well as time on the road in between each event towing a boat from one state to the next!
Congratulations to Rod Angwin on recently being awarded Australian Hansa sailor, at the Australian Para Sailing Championships at Royal Brighton Yacht Club VIC.
WADRA ‘Come and Try’ sailing
Andrew Waugh from the Western Australian Deaf Recreation Association (WADRA) worked with Rachael to schedule a sailing day on 10th November for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
With AUSLAN interpreters then booked and volunteers scheduled, the community had a great day on the water in keelboats, with some sailing for the first time with an AUSLAN interpreter!
This event was a major step forward for the deaf community to give supported sailing a try.
Social Sailing Sundays are back!
Are you looking to increase your sailing skills in a Hansa Dinghy, or do you want to try out sailing a Hansa 303 with volunteer support? Then Social Sailing Sundays are back!
The next session will take place on Sunday 19th January 2025, 9:30am-12pm.
Members can attend for free. For non-members it is $25 per participant (support workers attend for free). Make sure to register here.
AGM Reconvened to Tuesday 21 January 2025
The 2024 AGM has been reconvened to Tuesday 21 January 2025.
We thank our retiring Committee members Lorelle King, Greg O’Neill and Reg Cornelisse and welcome onboard Todd Back and Bruce Meakins.
Gary Griffiths renominated as President; Peter Moore, Secretary; and Ross O’Brien, Treasurer for another year with Graham White as Vice President to work alongside renominating members Rod Angwin, Colin Harrison and Peter Hugo.
Midweek Supported Sailing Activities
When participants have a membership with us and register for mid-week supported sailing activities, they are booked in for a whole Summer of Sailing activities. The program then continues for the rest of the Summer Season up until ANZAC Day 2025.
Check out our calendar on the front page of our website with all the dates for the season ahead!
Important end of year dates!
Last dates for mid-week supported sailing activities in 2024:
Wednesday: 18th December and Thursday 19th December 2024
Christmas/ New Year office closure:
Friday 20th December to Monday 6th January 2025
School Holiday program/ Come and Try sailing Days:
Monday 6th January 2025 to 31st January 2025
Mid–week supported Sailing Activities resume:
Wednesday 5th February and Thursday 6th February 2025 On behalf of all the team at Sailability WA we wish you and enjoyable relaxing festive season and a happy new year ahead…
Summer season (October to April) hours of operation
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 3pm, by phone or email.
Program Coordinator
Rachael Cox
Email: office@sailabilitywa.org.au
Phone: 0404 145 499
Workdays: Tuesday to Thursday
Sailability WA Inc
PO Box 5
NEDLANDS WA 6909
www.sailabilitywa.org.au
