Lessons set sailors free

A life on the ocean waves is impractical for many, but the opportunity of enjoying sailing is something everyone can do. For those with disabilities, the sailing experience can be extra special. In order to allow this to happen the Sailability Taranaki Trust was established in 2012 with the aim of creating opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the thrill of sailing.  Disabled people can use specially designed yachts to try sailing – this can be either alongside an experienced yachtsman or, as in most cases, independently.  The uniqueness of these yachts allows disabled sailors to experience a freedom that is often impossible on land.

The ability to sail also means the ability to compete and on October 12 and 13 Waitara Boating Club, in conjunction with Sailability Taranaki, hosted the Hansa 303 Class North Island Champs. Seventeen sailors competed in the singles division and 22 sailors in the doubles division. Taranaki sailors placed first second and third in the doubles Teryn Haughy and Neil Hodges winning that, and in the singles division,  Alan McGregor was second Dave Allerton fifth and Bob Knox eighth.

Although the programme is primarily aimed at young people, adults can and do attend the sailing days.  The look of sheer delight on the face of someone who has been resigned to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives and then finds themselves single-handedly sailing a yacht is a sight to behold.

School groups are arranged through respective school activities and open sailing days are available to other disabled members of the community on “Give it a Go” days. A C Crane set up on the dock to lift Para sailors from their wheelchair to the boat. Intellectually disabled people are also enthusiastic participants in the programme. Participants usually start with a companion skipper and progress to sailing on their own when capable. The boats are Hansa Class 303s specially built in Australia for the world-wide Sailability programmes and are now a World Paralympic class. They can take two people side by side or can be sailed by one person and steering is done with a central joystick. All the volunteers encourage the participants to steer the boat.

School groups attend sailing days during the week and open club sailing is available each weekend over the summer months once sailors are confident to participate. They will then hopefully become involved with the club activities the Waitara Boating Club runs on Sundays from October through to April.


Sailability participants learn their skills on the Waitara river and use the facilities at the Waitara Boating Club. A marquee erected near the boat ramp shelters the sailors as they await their turn. This area was specially levelled and fenced by the NP District Council kindly for use by the sailors in the programme. A food tent keeps the volunteers refreshed. A container next to the Waitara BC stores three of the boats, with the other six stored in the Waitara Boating Club. Four of the boats were purchased last year and they were brought to New Plymouth from Auckland by Hooker Pacific free of charge. The Trust is now planning a new shed to house all the boats plus the safety boat.

Of course, it is never all plain sailing as evidenced by cyclone Gita last year. With no water to drink no schools could open so Sailability Day was cancelled. But Trust chairman Dave Allerton says last year was one of the busiest yet. And successful. About 10 students were sailing solo, under the guidance of Wayne Holdt, much to everyone’s delight. Wayne also took five Sailability sailors to the North Island Hansa Champs at Lake Ngaroto. Twenty sailing days were programmed with 17 completed; 321 students attended, aided by 181 volunteers. Members of 14 different groups joined the programme and four sailors joined yacht clubs.

Sailability Taranaki looks forward to meeting and teaching even more sailors this year. The ability to provide the programme is due to the amazing volunteers who continue to support the Trust, which would also like to make special mention of the TSB Community Trust and the Urenui and Districts Lions Club for funding the running costs.  Those costs include safety boat servicing, yacht storage and insurance. Members from Urenui and Districts Lion Club, Waitara Lions Club, Waitara Boating Club and the New Plymouth Yacht Club are always there to lend a hand.  The Trust is also grateful for financial support through grants from the TSB Community Trust, Taranaki Electricity Trust for the purchasing of the 303 yachts, Methanex for a safety boat as well as a variety of Lions Clubs throughout the district have ensured that we have the yachts and the facilities to enable this activity to continue.


Inquiries can be made to the chairman of the Trust, Dave Allerton by calling  06-7523657 or via email on djallerton@xnet.co.nz<mailto:djallerton@xnet.co.nz>

Please also check out the Trust's Facebook page.