We have gathered up our most frequently asked questions, to assist you in getting the most out of your Sailability WA experience.
Check out the frequently asked questions below…. Still have a question? Not a problem, fill out the contact us form and we will gladly help.
The address for Sailability WA activities is: Royal Perth Yacht Club, Australia II Drive, Crawley WA 6009.
The meeting point for participants is the shaded area in front of the Dinghy Division Clubhouse. Which is to the East (or right-hand side) of the main clubhouse when facing the river.
Parking is available in the carpark opposite the Club gates, from here you can walk through the pedestrian gate to enter the Club grounds. There is also some ACROD parking available near to the sailing pontoon/ meeting area, just call the office number to gain access inside the gates.
Places in our Supported Sailing programs are generally booked for the whole season, with an annual membership fee applicable from the 1st October each year.
Once we have received a membership, you can book you in to our weekly supported sailing group sessions on a Wednesday or Thursday AM. Your place on a boat will be automatically confirmed by Rev Sport the booking platform we use.
We also run once off ‘Come and Try’ sailing events for disability support groups, and social sailing days. You can book into each event as it advertised… Participants do not need to be a member to Try out sailing or join in with our social sailing days!
Invitations to renew or become a member and booking information is issued in September each year before the start of our Summer Season in October. People can join in on activities at any time through the Summer Season if places on boats are available!
Membership gives you…
Memberships are for each year starting the 1st October through to the end of September the following year.
The Sailability WA Summer season runs from October until April, in line with the Summer sailing season at Royal Perth Yacht Club.
Our first week of sailing starts after the Royal Perth Yacht Club Summer Opening Day in October.
Just check our calendar to find out when our next group session is happening!
Act, Belong, Commit Supported sailing on Wednesday mornings is for mobile participants able to board the boats without hoisting.
Act, Belong. Commit High Support Sailing on Thursday mornings is for wheelchair users who require assistance to hoist aboard boats. There is also a rigid motorised floating pontoon called the Nev Thomas, which we use for electric wheelchair participants who wish the remain seated in their wheelchair.
Each supported session has a 1000 departure and an 1100 departure time.
Don’t miss the boat! Please arrive half an hour earlier than your departure time, to allow time for pre-sailing preparations. Late arrivals may miss their sailing opportunity as boats leave on time.
You get to choose which boat to sail on! Sailability WA ownes a fleet of keelboats, Hansa 303 dinghies (2 person), and Hansa Liberty dinghy (single person)
On a keelboat, a support person can accompany a participant.
In smaller two-person Hansa 303 dinghies, a participant sails with a volunteer skipper and their support person stays ashore. If a support person has sailing experience they can sail a Hansa 303 dinghy with the person with a disability they are supporting to be Active!
A support boat is on the water during all Sailability WA activities in case assistance is needed.
Sailability WA supplies all the boats and sails needed for your sailing experience! We also provide sunblock, chilled water and a shaded, seating area.
All participants and their support people are fitted with Personal Floatation Devices (PFD’s) before going on a boat, or entering the floating jetty area.
We encourage participants to purchase their own PFD from any boating/ outdoor store.
As we are an activity that is outside in the elements, using the wind to sail, we have safety guidelines for all activities we operate. This means that is the wind strength is “strong”- gusting consistently 16knts and over = 30km per hour, or if the temperature is forecast to be 35 degrees and over for an activity then the activity will be cancelled.
A cancellation notice will be posted on our website and on our facebook page the day before an activity around 3PM. We rely on weather forecasting from BOM, and Seabreeze, and Willy Weather to make a decision about a cancellation. Sometimes conditions can change quickly overnight, and a cancellation for an activity needs to occur on the day of an activity, in that case a cancellation notice will be posted on the day an activity happens around 7AM.
Please check our website home page or the facebook page to check to make sure sailing is ‘ON’ before attending each activity day. NO cancellation notice means sailing is ON.
