Mobility Info - Canada
Disabled Sailing
Getting started with sailing is a lot easier than you may think. This sport is both relaxing and invigorating and challenging, all at the same time. There are many boat types which beginners or experts, or those in between, can use. There's simply nothing like the smell of ocean water and breezes on your face, and it's great for the complexion (even men!).
A few small sailboats are called centreboards or day-sailing keelboats. These little guys can be a great way to get started and because they are small, they may be easier to handle for some people, such a novices. They are inexpensive to own or to operate, for a business or organization. You can learn the basics of sailing when you go on board these sturdy and compact boats. Some of these types of boats are designed for young people, but adults can certainly get a lot of enjoyment out of them.
As a class, small boats usually run under 25 feet long. Some types of these boats are dinghies (which are open cockpit), daysailers (which have gear enclosures and foredecks), and day sailing keelboats, which are also small. Simply because they are small, they may be taken out by one person. You can have a smooth and relaxing ride or a wild and woolly one. They are just fantastic for someone sailing in a new manner, for the first time.
Lots of community sailing programs either rent out or teach, using small boats like these -- yacht club junior programs as well as camps, aquatic centres of several types, parks and recreation departments, YMCAs and YWCAs, scout programs, military recreation facilities and universities.
Keelboats run the gamut from basic to the larger cruising yachts. They have a weighted keel, which is a fin running vertically from the bottom of the boat, Even the most basic of these types of boats start at about 20 feet for their keel length, and they can reach 30 feet. After the term basic for a keelboat, yachts and sailing vessels can become much larger and use a keel. Boats from 30 to about 60 feet and are called cruising keelboats. All of this class of boat has auxiliary engines and the larger ones use an inboard diesel engine as well.
The bigger boats can go on multiple-day cruises and may have a lot of modern conveniences such as you have in your home. You can cook and bake, use hot or cold water, sleep in a cabin and use a private bathroom with showers. Think of the places you could go on one of these.
Windsurfers can be often seen off our coasts, and this is a casual way to try sailing. They look like a surfboard with a colourful sail. They come in different sizes, and skill level is taken into consideration when choosing one. Beginners use longer and wider ones and as you can imagine this gives the novice more room to move around and try out those surfer dude moves!
Catamarans (two hulls) are multi-hulled sailing vessels. They do come in varied styles and capabilities. Trimarans have three hulls. They also vary in size. There's a wide range of lengths for catamarans as they can be 9 feet, or over a 100 feet. Smaller ones are called beach cats. Get to over 21 feet long, and then the catamarans and trimarans are designed for many purposes. Some can be raced and some are for cruising. Multi-hulled boats are stable and provide smooth rides.
If you'd like some more info on disabled sailing, you can check out these sites:
(U.S.) http://www.challengedamerica.org/
(U.K.) http://www.ableize.com/recreation-sports/Water-Sports/sailing/
(Canada) http://www.disabledsailingbc.org/about.shtml
