Port Bouvard Yacht Club’s innovative sailing program for people with disabilities will officially set sails on Sunday morning – after several years of planning – and everybody is invited on board.
The project, which was funded through the Royalties for Regions Community Chest Fund last year, aims to bring to children with both physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to learn how to sail.
The Dawesville-based club is the first yacht club between Perth and Albany to have a sailing program for people with disabilities, becoming one in four clubs in Western Australia to offer sailability options.
The two new adapted trimarans purchased for the program can take up to two participants, their carers and a qualified instructor out into the estuary to enjoy sailing in a safe environment.
Port Bouvard Yacht Club commodore John Hunt said he was excited to finally launch the project, and encouraged members from the public to drop by the opening event.
“We have been looking forward to this day for a few years, that’s how much planning has gone into the program,” Mr Hunt said.
“I’m sure, given the support we have received, that none of the effort will be wasted and that our club will offer the right balance of inclusion for all.”
The free launching event will take off at 11am on Sunday and will include light refreshments and shady viewing areas for punters.
Australian Paralympian and top sailor Rod Angwin will also attend the opening event to share tips and tricks with potential new sailors and to talk about his experience sailing in the Beijing and Rio Olympics.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to try the club’s yachts on the estuary to see what the club is about.
For more information about the Port Bouvard Yacht Club and their sailability launching event go to pbyc.org.au.