With the 2024/2025 Summer Sailing season completed we were pleased to host over seventy (70) sailing sessions as part of the Act Belong Commit campaign and two (2) learn to sail programs for our members with their support person throughout the season.
We were also pleased to provide some financial support to our sailors Rachael Cox, Genevieve Wickham, Rod Angwin and Kylie Forth, as part of our Grant Funding Program, to attend and compete in National and International events this past season.
I would like to thank Rachael Cox for her tremendous effort in helping to ensure these sessions took place and, with the support of Bethia Blond whilst Rachael was competing in the Hansa International Championship in Sydney.
Our Volunteers contributed well over 2000 volunteer hours to support Rachael & our participants and provide technical expertise & boat maintenance skills throughout the season. The Committee and I are extremely grateful for their continued dedication and support in returning week after week.
Thank you also to our Committee Members who do a tremendous job ensuring we all stay on track from a governance and financial perspective.
I hope you enjoy this edition of Finding Freedom!
With warmest regards,
Gary Griffiths | President | Sailability WA
Volunteer Spotlight
From Sailing to Windsurfing to Sailing – Alun Price caught up with Volunteer Bethia Blond recently to about talk his experience volunteering with Sailability WA.
From a chance conversation with a friend from RPYC, Alun has spent the last 6 years volunteering with us and enjoys being at the club on a Thursday morning with beautiful weather, being around boats and talking to people. Alun volunteers mainly on shore support and occasional crewing on the Nev Thomas II and our keelboats, although his favourite task is probably crewing. Alun has learned new skillsets about sailing, rigging and boats during his time being at yacht clubs.
Alun has always had a professional interest in accessible and universal design movement. As a former Coordinator for Environmental and Spatial Design at ECU, Alun previously lectured and was head of the Design School at Curtin University, doing a lot of work in the disability sector. One of his PhD students was involved in developing systems to better fit people to wheelchairs or better fit wheelchairs to people.
After spending about five years sailboat racing Alun got the windsurfing bug, after seeing the world windsurfing championships at RPYC in 1984. Having spent time wave sailing on the ocean catching waves and in the river, Alun recalls the sign on the door of Hydrodynamics in North Fremantle saying open from 9am to 15 knots! So Alun’s favourite kind of conditions to sail in, is reasonable breezes!
Paul Nimmo has been volunteering with SWA for around 2 ½ years and counts every volunteer as his favourite! Paul has definitely enjoyed making new friends, particularly with Andrew and Pieter.
Paul finds the best thing about sailing on the water with our volunteers is the look of shear joy on the faces of the participants when they leave the marina, hoisting the sails, turning off the engine and they are truly sailing. It’s a sure sign of their enjoyment and the relaxing effect it has on them in that some will fall asleep very quickly! Aside from Paul’s love of sailing the absolute best part of the volunteer experience is the feedback from the participants and their obvious enjoyment of everything Sailability provides.
Thank you Alun and Paul for your continued support of Sailability WA!
Archie Sell – Volunteer of the Year Award!
Congratulations to Archie Sell who has been awarded the Sailability WA Volunteer of the Year Award at the end of season Volunteer Morning Tea held in May.
Archie volunteered with Sailability WA during his gap year after finishing high school. Archie has been helping out with the Hansa 303 dinghy group and Hansa Liberty (Electric Blue) on a Wednesday and also involved with Sunday social Sailing events in Hansa dinghies.
Archie and Liz (participant with a vision impairment) then went on to compete in the WA Hansa State Champs together. Archie has a great way of explaining how things work to participants with disabilities.
Winter Series Training in Hansa Dinghies
Members are invited to come and sail Hansa 303’s and Hansa Liberty dinghies during our winter season on the following Sundays:
22 June
6 July
20 July
17 August
31 August
We’d like to help you upskill and learn more about sail trim and boat control in different conditions with a volunteer or crew sailing with you. We sail in the rain and wind conditions up to 18 knots. Arrival is 9am for set up and briefing before the on-water session at 10am. Non members are welcome to sail with us by purchasing a general admission ticket. Bookings are essential and you can read more about the program and book here.
Our Volunteer Training Program is open for EOIs!
Expressions of Interest are now open until 15 July 2025, to registered volunteers for our 2025 Volunteer Training Program.
Volunteers will be able to upskill in first aid (including CPR), mental health first aid training, recreational skipper’s ticket, safety boat operator skills, dinghy instructor course, adult learn to sail, radio operations etiquette. Training will occur from July to December 2025.
Not a registered volunteer? Sign up today using this link. Become a Volunteer – Sailability WA. You can read the full training prospectus and register your interest for the Volunteer Training Program here. Contact Kyllie Whitehead if you have any queries.
Proposed Matilda Bay Ferry Terminal
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.
Rest assured the safety of our members and participants sailing with us is a priority. We are a member of the Safety on Swan Group and SailabilityWA has given feedback to the Hon Rita Saffioti, MLA, Deputy Premier; Minister for Transport, Sport & Recreation. We identified our concerns and advised our preference for relocating the Ferry Terminal to the Jo’s 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. If you would like to let us know your thoughts about what Sailability WA activities in Matilda Bay mean to you, please email Rachael Cox. We appreciate your input on this important issue for our organisation.
With the decision made not to hold a Finding Freedom fundraising luncheon in 2025 due to no identifiable equipment requirements we are seeking donations to assist with operational costs. If you are in a position to make a tax-deductible donation to help us it would be greatly appreciated. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be made via Sailability WA website donation page: Donations – Sailability WA.
Winter season (June to September) hours of operation
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am to 3pm, by phone or email. In person appointments on site to be booked in advance.
Program Coordinator
Rachael Cox
Email: office@sailabilitywa.org.au
Phone: 0404 145 499
Workdays: Tuesday to Thursday
Located on the banks of the Derbal Yerrigan, Sailability WA is hosted at Royal Perth Yacht Club,
Australia II Drive, Crawley WA 6009.
