Preparations are underway for the 2025/2026 Summer Sailing Season with membership now open. With the implementation of our new booking system in revSPORT, membership renewals, new memberships and bookings for Supported Sailing group activities, Committee, Club Racing etc will be different this year (see below), however help is available if you have any queries.
We continue to work tirelessly to advocate for a change of the proposed Matilda Bay Ferry Terminal to Jo Jos jetty. We are seeking your support to help us advocate for the change of location.
We look forward to getting out on the water with you soon!
With warmest regards,
Gary Griffiths | President | Sailability WA
Help us advocate for a change of the proposed Ferry Terminal to Jo Jo’s Jetty!
Following on from our June newsletter, you may be aware of the WA Government’s proposed Ferry Terminal in Matilda Bay waters, where we run our supported sailing and learn to sail training programs. Whilst we are supportive of the State Government using the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River) for public transport to the UWA campus we do have safety concerns regarding the proposed location at Matilda Bay.
Sailability WA is a member of the Safety on Swan Group and our knowledgeable stakeholders are working tirelessly to advocate for relocation of the Ferry Terminal to the Jo Jo’s jetty, which still provides access to the south end of UWA for students and links well with QEII Medical Centre bus services for ferry passengers.
Sailability WA has written to the Hon Rita Saffioti MLA, Deputy Premier; Minister for Transport, Sport & Recreation raising our safety concerns and advising our preference for relocating the proposed terminal to Jo Jo’s, which overcomes the safety issues we have identified.
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) will invite public comment for up to 21 days as part of their assessment process of the new Matilda Bay and Applecross terminals. Additionally, a referral will be made to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as part of an environmental assessment process. The EPA will publish the referral to its website for public comment for up to seven days.
Will you help us advocate for the change of location of the ferry terminal to Jo Jo’s jetty due to our safety concerns of the terminal being in Matilda Bay? You can do this in any number of ways:
- Join us at 8.30am on Thursday 18th September in a Grievance Motion to the Western Australian Parliament, supported by Jonathan Huston MLA, Member for Nedlands. This motion aims to highlight the impact of a ferry terminal and operations in Matilda Bay and emphasise the effect on our Sailability programs, if the proposed location goes ahead. The meeting point is Solidarity Park on the corner of Harvest Terrace and Parliament Place, West Perth
- Join us from 11am until 1pm on 21st September on the Matilda Bay foreshore and on the water in Hansa 303 dinghies, for a picnic/regatta. We will be located on the Matilda Bay foreshore, northside of the Bayside Café – look for our Sailability banners
- Contact your local Member of Parliament
- Write to the Hon Hannah Beazley MLA; Minister for Disability Services
- Write to the Hon Rita Saffioti MLA, Deputy Premier & Minister for Transport; Sport and Recreation
- Join the Friends of Matilda Bay | Facebook group
Rest assured the safety of our members and participants sailing with us is a priority and we will continue to advocate for the change of location of the ferry terminal! If you have any concerns you wish to raise with us, please email us at office@sailabilitywa.org.au.
Summer Season 2025/2026 Membership is now open!
The season will commence Wednesday 15 October and Thursday 16 October 2025 and run through to May 2026, on site at Royal Perth Yacht Club, Crawley.
Membership renewals and new memberships can be completed online on or before 1st October 2025 for the year ahead here: Become a Member – Sailability WA
This year our membership categories have changed to:
- $20 Supported Sailing Membership. Members can register for Supported Sailing activities and group sessions on a Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday throughout the 2025/2026 Summer Season.
- $140 Committee, Club Racing or Supporter membership – this option is to book a boat for sail training, RPYC Club racing, apply for national and international championship funding assistance and, support an inclusive organisation offering sailing opportunities to people with disabilities!
If you are having difficulties applying for new membership or renewing your membership online please contact office@sailabilitywa.org.au
Two Terms for Mid-week Supported sailing activities
This season we will operate two Supported Sailing Terms:
- Term 1 will run 15th October to mid-December 2025 ($60 per person)
- Term 2 will run start February to May 2026 ($60 per person)
Check out our calendar of events: Events – Sailability WA with all the dates for the season ahead!
Bookings are essential – use the online platform link above, to register!
Make sure you book in to save your spot in our Supported Sailing group activities on a Wednesday or Thursday in either a Hansa Dinghy, Keelboat or on the Nev Thomas 2 powerboat.
If you are having difficulties booking into the events via the online revSPORT platform, email or call our office and we can guide you through it. We have changed the way participants can book into our supported sailing programs this year to align with NDIS changes for funded activities. Members with eligible NDIS plans can claim from NDIS using the code: 04_102_0136_6_1 with your paid invoice issued via the revSPORT system. Contact your NDIS Local Area or Support Coordinator for assistance on how to do this.
Our RS Venture Connect is on its way!
With funding from our 2024 Finding Freedom luncheon and a successful Lotterywest grant we have been able to purchase an RS Venture Connect vessel to meet the training requirements of our members with a disability. Members with a disability will be able to follow their aspirations and increase their sailing skills, ranging from opportunities to take part in recreational activities, to training for local, interstate and international competitions.
Having this vessel added to our fleet will aim to increase exposure to, and participation in, Sailability WA activities in a two-person vessel alongside a volunteer or an able-bodied sailor.
We look forward to this boat providing the equipment needed for members to develop their sailing/racing skills and provide a better pathway for competing in inclusive sailing events at either a Club level or National level. Which, understandably, gives members a sense of belonging and comraderie alongside other sailors taking part in events, and improved mental health. In the longer term, the RS Venture Connect is anticipated to be nominated as the 2-person class for Inclusive sailing events worldwide, and to become a future paralympic class boat should sailing be reintroduced in the Brisbane 2032 Games
Social Sailing Sundays return this summer season!
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? If so, get involved in Social Sailing Sundays!
Our first Social Sailing Sunday session will take place on Sunday 5th October 2025 from 9am-12pm. Members can attend for free and for non-members, it is $25 per session (support workers attend for free).
Social Sailing Sunday dates for the Summer Season include:
- 5 October
- 19 October
- 2 November
- 16 November
- 23 November
- 14 December
- 18 January
- 1 February
- 22 February
- 8 March
- 22 March
- 29 March
- 19 April
Bookings are essential to secure your Social Sailing Sunday seat, sailing in a Hansa dinghy over the whole Summer and can be made via the Humantix website here.
Annual Busy Bee Day – Wednesday 24 September 2025
If you have some time available from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday 24th September 2025 to help with our annual Busy Bee, helping us get all our boats and equipment ready for the Summer Sailing Season ahead, please register by 18th September. Tea/coffee and snacks for volunteers will be provided.
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/pre-season-busy-bee.
Summer season (October to May) hours of operation
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 3pm, by phone or email.
Sailability WA Inc
PO Box 5
NEDLANDS WA 6909
www.sailabilitywa.org.au
Program Coordinator
Rachael Cox
Email: office@sailabilitywa.org.au
Phone: 0404 145 499
Workdays: Tuesday to Thursday
Administration Coordinator
Kyllie Whitehead
Email: admin@sailabilitywa.org.au
Workday: Friday
Located on the banks of the Derbal Yerrigan, Sailability WA is hosted at Royal Perth Yacht Club,
Australia II Drive, Crawley WA 6009.
