The Sailability State Championships for people with disabilities was held at Port Adelaide Sailing Club on the weekend of 28/29 March with 21 sailors in three divisions.
These consisted of access 2.3 class (2 boats 1 manual the other electric servo assist) Liberty class (5 boats) and 14 access 303 class ( 2 person) A total of 40 competitors This was made up of 3 boats from Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, 6 boats Adelaide Sailing Club, 11 boats Port Adelaide Sailing Club and a boat from Sugarloaf Sailing Club in Victoria .
Any Sailability event would not happen without the large number of special volunteers who not only crewed in the 303's but manned the hoists that lift the sailors into the boats, moved the various types of wheelchairs, scooters etc and prepared the sailors with PFDs, slings and water before going onto the pontoon for loading the race officers Bob Schahinger and Noel Porter did a magnificent job despite no wind on both mornings and having to organize races between shipping movements ( the competitors got to see tugs and tankers up real close) .
Saturdays racing was postponed for 40 minutes until the wind decided to come in from the SE (3 to 5 knots) allowing 2 races before dropping out early afternoon
Sunday was again postponed for 45 min due to the lack of wind (0 with gusts of 1 knot at the black pole according to B.O.M. web site). When racing got underway it depended on which side of the river you where on to whether you were going forward or sitting stationary, however all boats managed to complete the course. Just prior to the final race the wind decided to change to SW and a tanker and tugs come through the race course so after a short delay the final race was run.
Results
Access 2.3 1st Chris Riordon Adel. SC
2nd Martin Waller Sugarloaf SC (Vic)
Access 303 1st Jae Goodridge PASC
2nd Rafs PASC
3rd Aaron Heading Adel. SC
Liberties 1st Graham Hamilton Adel SAC
2nd Simon Thiele Goolwa RYC
3rd Russell Green Adel SC
Report from John Johnston
