Sailability
Now that we are registered as a Sports & Cultural association with the Regional Government of Murcia we are keen to help, support or promote handicapped and disabled people who wish to sail. For those who are too handicapped to get on the water our One Metre Remote Control Boat Group may be of interest. For others we have formed a Sailability Group with the aim of organising fun sports and racing that ALL can participate in. Our able bodied sailors can help rig specially adapted boats for handicapped sailors and crew for them if desired.
We are indebted to Mike Wood who has personal experience in this field as the leader of the UK Disabled Sailing Organisation in helping us to set up this group to develop similar facilities in Spain.
His Ro-Ro Sailing Project is based in Portsmouth, England and uses wheelchair accessible sailing yachts to allow disabled sailors to be a member of the crew. http://www.disabledsailing.org/
The Weta Class Association based in Gosport, Hampshire uses two classes of boats to enable handicapped people to participate in sailing races http://www.weta.org.uk/
The Martin 16 is promoted as the sport boat for sailors of all abilities http://www.martin16.com/
Spain has been a member of the International Sailing Association for Disabled Sailing since 2004 http://www.sailing.org/1089.php
Fundación También is the Spanish National Organisation for Disabled Sports and their sailing for disabled activities can be seen www.tambien.org We have started joint sailing activities with them on the Mar Menor.
Delegacion Murciana de Deportes de Minusvalidos Fisicos is a delegation of the Spanish Disabled Sports Federation in Murcia http://www.footeprint.com/sailingweb/spain2.htm
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Following a visit to the Mar Menor by Mike Wood and his wife Irina in March 2009, when his specially built trimarans were demonstrated and discussions held with SAMM, Mike wrote a discussion note reflecting our joint proposals. He has updated this during their second visit September/October 2009 to reflect the latest position as the venture moves forward. The note is below with SAMM comments added in red:
WARM WEATHER SAILING OVERVIEW
CONTACT AT SAMM (to arrange sailing) Adrian Chorley – adrianfpc@hotmail.co.uk
ADVICE
It is usually very hot, ‘YOU MUST’ protect your skin and head and have plenty of drink available.