Supported Sailing

At Sailability WA, we are committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy the vast and plentiful benefits of the recreation we are so passionate about. Supported sailing provides the opportunity for people of all abilities to participate in a way that is suited to their requirements.

Sailability WA offers two supported sailing options during the week as outlined below.

Wednesday

Act, Belong, Commit Supported Sailing

Set sail on a Wednesday morning during our Summer Season on the beautiful waters of the Swan River/ Derbal Yerrigan. Feel the fresh breeze and enjoy the feeling of freedom at a gentle pace, with an experienced volunteer skipper and crew members. Supported sailing on Wednesday morning is for mobile participants able to board our boats with minimal assistance and without hoisting.

Participants can select to sail on a larger keelboat, or smaller two-person Hansa 303 dinghy, or Hansa Liberty (solo). We can assist with an appropriate boat selection with a participant’s safety and enjoyment in mind, or if you know which boat you are interested in sailing on that’s great!

Boats: Participants can sail with a support person on a keelboat with a volunteer skipper and crew. Hansa 303 dinghy’s are also available where a participant and volunteer skipper sail together (one on one). To sail in a Hansa 303 dinghy we ask that a participant is comfortable being apart from their support person and enjoys being on the water, while their support person stays ashore. We also have Hansa Liberty’s available to sail for experienced sailors who can sail solo!
Session Times: each morning session has a 10AM departure and an 11AM departure, for Hansa 303 dinghies and keelboats. Boats will leave the jetty at these times! Hansa Liberty sailors have a departure time of 10:30AM.
You will need to arrive half an hour earlier than your sailing departure time to allow for pre-sailing preparations and to travel to the boats. Late arrivals may miss their sailing opportunity as boats need to leave on time!

A support boat is always on the water during supported sailing activities to assist if needed.

If skippering the boat and taking an active role in crewing is of interest, we encourage participants to communicate with their volunteer skipper and crew to make this possible. Otherwise, sit back, relax and enjoy all sailing has to offer.

To book in for the entire Summer Sailing Season please register after the 1st September 2024 here:

Thursday

Act, Belong, Commit High Support Sailing

Supported Sailing on a Thursday morning throughout the Summer Season is for wheelchair users who require hoisting aboard our boats.

Boats:

Participants are hoisted from their wheelchairs and settled comfortably into beanbags and cushions on our larger keelboats.
or there is also a rigid motorised floating pontoon called Nev Thomas 2, which can boarded by participants using an electric wheelchair who also wish to remain seated in their chair.

Session Times:

Each morning session has a 10AM departure and an 11AM departure,
As there are limited hoists to lift participants into the boats, we ask that participants and support people arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your session time, to ensure you are ready and on board in time.

Support people are responsible for a participant’s sling and sling placement before hoisting, our volunteers can assist with hoisting a participant into the bean-bags on board.

Our experienced volunteer skippers and crew take our keelboats onto the beautiful local waters of Matilda Bay, for a gentle and relaxing sail.

To book in for the entire Summer Sailing Season please register after the 1st September 2024 here:

Nev Thomas

Nev Thomas 2 is a motorised pontoon, which Fishability W.A. generously loans to Sailability, once a week. The pontoon enables people who are unable to be lifted from their wheelchairs, to get out onto the water.

Participants embark onboard in their wheelchair accompanied by their support person, and the vessel and travels at a leisurely pace on the Swan River.

Destinations for the cruise include Elizabeth Quay, or over to Applecross.

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Book your spot today. We'd love to see you there.

Happy participants

“A Huge thank you to all for giving Emma the opportunity to feel the wind on her face and enjoy the experience of sailing.”

Jill, Emma's mum

Thursday supported sailing participant