People with disabilities are leaving their limitations at the dock. Organizations like Newport, Rhode Island’s Shake-A-Leg, the first to offer adaptive sailing, are helping them access sailing. You don’t need sailing experience, gear, or even money. All you need is a desire to sail.
For an interview with John Ross-Duggan, click here
Click here for details on the 2006 We Gotta Regatta.
Read on for a complete listing of programs across the United States.
East Coast
Shake-A-Leg
Shake-A-Leg offers youth summer sailing outings and mentor camps, kayaking and sailing programs for the developmentally disabled, summer fund-raising regattas, and other water sports programs. The program in Miami, located on Biscayne Bay, has had success extending its program to able-bodied sailors.
Miami, FL; tel. 305-858-5550
www.shakealegmiami.org
Newport, RI; tel. 401-849-8898
www.shakealeg.org
Accessible Sailing Adventures
Providing an educational and therapeutic experience for children with special physical needs and their families through hands-on sailing of America’s first handicap-accessible tall ship Raw Faith.
Machais, ME; tel. 207-255-6286
http://accessiblesailing.info
Piers Park Sailing Center
Teaching sailing and developing character through the craft of seamanship, providing access to Boston Harbor and its islands. Offering adult memberships and courses, free youth sailing programs, adaptive sailing and racing in a fleet of ten Sonars and two Access Dinghies.
East Boston, MA; tel. 617-561-6677
www.piersparksailing.org
Duxbury Bay Maritime School
Through the ACCESSAIL program, students are encouraged to take the helm, trim sails, and learn about sailing. Weekend and weekday classes, as well as the ACCESSAIL Regatta each summer.
Duxbury, MA; tel. 781-934-7555
www.duxbayms.com
Sail Connecticut Access Program
Training persons with special needs to pilot a sailboat and understand the joys of sailing in their two Independence 20s and a Pearson Ensign.
Westbrook, CT; tel. 860-664-9395; Dockside (seasonal) 860-304-6588
www.salictaccess.org
New England Competitive Sailing Center
Established to train and educate disabled individuals, and other competitive sailors, to the opportunities available in the amateur sport of sailing and sailboat racing.
Stamford, CT
www.necsc.org
Disabled Sports USA
Established in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans to serve the war injured, DS/USA now offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent physical disability. Activities include winter skiing, water sports, summer and winter competitions, fitness and special sports events.
Rockville, MD; tel. 301-217-0960
www.dsusa.org
Downtown Sailing Center
Providing affordable access to quality sailing programs and events, education in sailing and water safety skills and sponsoring both recreational and racing opportunities in a fleet of 11 J/22s and four Sonar 23s. The DSC has worked with the School for the Blind to teach students to sail and since 1997 has introduced almost 2,000 Baltimore City 2nd and 3rd graders to sail through SuperKids Camp, the Housing Department Youth Centers and the Police Athletic League.
Baltimore MD; tel. 410-727-0722
www.downtownsailing.org
Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating
Essential to the process is acquainting these persons, young and old, with the potential for joy and empowerment that mastery of the forces of the winds over water in sailing craft can provide. They host the Crab Cup Regatta each June, as well as weekly Sunday racing in Freedom 20s, 21s and 22s.
Annapolis, MD
www.crab-sailing.org
Hampton Roads Community Sailing Center
Sail Hampton Roads works with area hospitals, rehabilitation centers and agencies that serve the disabled community to provide sailing instruction and recreational opportunities to people with disabilities. Every Friday, April through October, 1-4pm.
Hampton, VA; tel. 757-651-4273
www.sailhamptonroads.com
Sailing Alternatives
The four week program is meant to successfully bring a student with no prior knowledge of sailing to the point where they can navigate a 19 foot boat and return safely to the dock while enjoying an afternoon of sailing. Courses use Illusions, 2.4 mRs, and Rhodes 19s.
Sarasota, FL; tel. 941-377-4986
www.sailingalternatives.org
Team PARADISE
Creating advanced sailboat racing for disabled elite sailors from around the world, in conjunction with Shake-A-leg Miami.
Miami, FL; tel. 305-776-8778
www.teamparadise.org
www.dusa.org
Sailability
Headquartered in Australia, Sailibility operates 350 clubs worldwide, offering affordable, accessible sailing activities and education to children and adults of all abilities focusing on community integration to improve their quality of life.
Clearwater, FL; tel. 727-789-9058
www.sailability.org
Tradewinds Foundation
Offering three new sailing programs in Access Dinghies for disabled adults and children at risk.
Dania Beach, FL; tel. 800-734-8930
Stockton, CA; tel. 877-477-4161
New Hartford, NY; tel. 888-595-2628
www.tradewindsfoundation.org
South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association
Including 40 member yacht clubs through Georgia and the Carolinas, SAYRA sails with disabled sailors – blind, quadraplegic, paraplegic or with other disabilities.
www.sayra-sailing.org
West Coast
Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia
With more than 300 participants and 80 volunteers, DSA strives to increase the independence, motivation and quality of life for people with significant physical disabilities. They race Martin 16s in a slew of regattas and weekly races.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; tel. 604-688-6464
www.disabilityfoundation.org
Footloose Sailing Association
Anyone can sail a boat and leave their disability behind and everyone enjoys independence on the water. Their programs include day sailing on Lake Washington, regattas and overnight cruises.
Seattle, WA; tel. 206-382-2680
www.footloosesailing.org
Treasure Island Sailing Center
Ranging from introductory sailing for children and adults to competitive training for individuals preparing for the US Paralympic Sailing Team. Sailing on Access Dinghies, Sonars, and J24’s.
San Francisco, CA; tel. 415-421-2225
www.tisailing.org
Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors (BAADS)
BAADS is a group of more than 100 sailors. About half have disabilities. Some have experience, some don’t. They have hosted the US Independence Cup and the North American Challenge Cup. They also offer Sunday cruises each week from their berth at Pier 40.
San Francisco, CA; tel. 415-281-0212
www.baads.org
Challenged America
A charitable program providing free, year-round, learn-to-sail and advanced sailing instructions for disabled children and their loved ones.
Shelter Island, San Diego, CA; tel. 619-523-9318
www.challengedamerica.org
Access to Sailing
Interactive day sails are the heart of the programs, aboard the 64-foot ketch Varsouviana, where participants are encouraged to get actively involved. They also teach boating safety and certification classes.
Long Beach, CA; tel. 562-433-0561
www.accesstosailing.org
Great Lakes
Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies
Teaching life and classroom skills through hands-on boat building, sail training environmental studies and other maritime related activities.
Erie, PA; tel. 814-456-4077
www.goerie.com
Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program
Offering sailing courses, weekly racing, annual regattas and leisure cruises to people with all disabilities, JGASP is a public/private partnership with the Chicago Park District: the Foundation raises funds for instructor salaries, boats and maintenance costs while the Park District operates the Program on a day-to-day basis. The fleet consists of eight Freedom 20’s, three Sonars, and two 2.4 meter sailboats.
Chicago, IL; tel. 312-747-7684
www.juddgoldmansailing.org
Y-Knot Sailing Association
An adaptive sailing program designed and run by and for people with disabilities, based out of the YMCA Camp Chingachgook on Lake George, with a Freedom and a Rainbow 24.
Kattskill Bay, NY; 518-656-9462
www.footeprint.com
STRIDE – Sports and Therapeutic Recreation Instruction/Developmental Education.
A multidisciplinary, educational organization specializing in therapeutic recreation-related services for individuals with disabilities. Offering sailing, skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, bowling, baseball and swimming programs.
Rensselear, NY; tel. 518-598-1279
www.stride.org
Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center>br>
Their Adaptive Watersports Program offers sailing, kayaking and canoeing classes at all levels, from supervised recreational sailing to independent racing competition. Their extensive fleet consists of seven Escapes, six Hobie One-14s, 14 Club 420s, three Rhodes 19s, four Sonar 23s, plus a Martin 16, an Access Dinghy, a Sonar 23 and 12 canoes and kayaks.
Burlington, VT; winter tel. 802-862-8993 x. 122; summer 802-864-2499
www.communitysailingcenter.org
