Twenty-nine sailors from as far away as Hawaii and California have come together in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, to compete in the Mobility Cup, a regatta dedicated to making sailing inclusive and accessible for all.
The event is organized by the Able Sail Network of Canada, a group committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical ability, can enjoy the sport of sailing.
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Sailor Rene Dallaire who came from Montreal to participate in the Mobility Cup (Nathan Coleman).
Among the participants is Rene Dallaire, who traveled from Montreal to take part. Dallaire uses sip-and-puff technology to control his boat during the races.
“When I want to control my sails, I sip, and they come in. I puff, and the sails go out. They’re actually straws. I do the same thing with the rudder as well,” Dallaire explained to The Weather Network.
Gerry Burns made the journey from Vancouver to compete in his tenth Mobility Cup.
“For myself, my left arm is severely paralyzed, so I use just my right. I control the boat with a joystick called an autohelm, similar to the one on my chair, which hydraulically moves the rudder left and right,” Burns shared.
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Boats on the water at the Mobility Cup in Lunenburg, NS (Nathan Coleman).
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The boats used in the regatta are Martin 16s, which are specially adapted for accessible sailing.
“They have a really heavy lead keel, so they’re untippable—that’s the idea,” explained Anneka Siegel, a sailor from Halifax. “For people who might be strapped into the boat and can’t swim very well, that’s really important.”
The Lunenburg Yacht Club spent a year preparing to host the regatta, investing $250,000 to upgrade their facilities and make them more accessible.
“For the first time in over 75 years, our clubhouse is fully accessible. There were always stairs or a very steep ramp to get into the building. Now everything meets Nova Scotia’s upcoming 2030 accessibility standards,” said Erin McCarty, Commodore of the Lunenburg Yacht Club.
One of the key improvements was the addition of a new 30-foot ramp, 48 inches wide, which enables sailors to access the water easily.
“Every year, it’s a lot of the same faces you’ve seen at past events, and they become such awesome friends. They come from all over North America—San Diego, Hawaii—and when you see them again, it’s so awesome,” Burns said, reflecting on the camaraderie among the participants.
The sailors are divided into two fleets: the Gold fleet for experienced racers and the Silver fleet for those who are new to the sport.
Thumbnail image taken by Nathan Coleman.
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Publish date : 2024-08-28 05:12:00
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