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 Access Dinghy Championships in Canberra, Australia
By Herb Meyer
The Access Dinghy Foundation of Sidney, Australia with the Aspect Computing Corporation as primary sponsor, organized a great regatta this past February. His Excellency, the Honorable Sir William Deane, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Patron of the Access Dinghy Foundation and presented the awards at the closing ceremonies.
There were 138 participants sailing in 84 Access Dinghy’s. Countries sending competitors included Japan, Singapore, France, Canada and the United States. The Australians had competitors from as far away as Perth on the West Coast. Over 20 Sailability Community Sailing organizations sent their boats and teams to compete in this open sailing event where 71% were sailors with disabilities, and 29% were able-bodied. The oldest competitor was 84 and the youngest was 7. They sailed together in the 2.3 Doubles Division. Approximately 35% were women and 65% were men.
The Regatta was held on Lake Tuggeranong which is located in the suburbs of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The Three Lakes Sailing Club, in conjunction with the local Sailability Club and Sea Scouts, ran the event. The Sea Scouts provided crash boats and onshore personnel to help load the disabled sailors.
The Access Dinghy Foundation’s trademark “Sailing for Everyone” was in evidence. Just visualize a beautiful lake surrounded by hills with a sandy beach and over 80 colorful Access Dinghies on the beach, or on the lake sailing in a race. Families were gathered on the beach in large tents to shade themselves from the hot sun and to cheer on the racers who could easily be seen sailing on the Lake. Breakfasts and lunches were available from the volunteer staffed food preparation areas.
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detail of joystick controls in an Access Dinghy
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I sailed in a single seat Access Dinghy 303 S which was outfitted with a servo-electric system that moves the main and jib in or out and the rudder right or left. I disconnected the rudder function in as much as I could steer the joystick-controlled rudder without the servo-electric assistance. The jib was club-footed and self-tacking. However, in the very light air, the jib would hang up and backwind. We sailed five races in the two days of sailing. The competition was very good. Zoltan Pegan from Sydney won the event with four first places and a third-place. I finished in seventh place overall for the Regatta. It was a joy to sail the Access Dinghies and to have the opportunity of meeting such a fine group of fun loving and dedicated people.
Carolynn Heilig, my attendant/fiancé, and I flew from Los Angeles nonstop on Qantas Airlines to Melbourne where Chris Mitchell, designer and builder of the Access Dinghy, and Jackie Kay, Chairperson of the Access Dinghy Foundation, greeted us and gave us a tour of the factory where the boats are constructed. We also had time to spend with Chris and Jackie to better understand just how they are expanding the concept of “Sailing for Everyone” in Australia as well as in other countries around the world.
Thanks again to the Access Dinghy Foundation and the St. Francis Yacht Club Foundation for their support in the funding of my transportation expenses to Australia for the International Access Dinghy Regatta.
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