A TECT grant towards buying new boats for Sailability is on only half the mission facing the charitable trust, says Jim McGlone.

TECT has set aside $48,381 to help with the purchase of four new Hansa dinghies, a new patrol RIB with and engine and a new engine for the existing patrol RIB.

Sailability has to raise the other $48,000.

'We haven't manged to match it yet but we are working on it hard,” says Jim.

'We are waiting to hear from Bay Trust for two of the dinghies and we are in the process of sending application in to Grassroots (Trust) for the other two, and we are chasing pub charity for the engine and the patrol boat.”

Sailability Tauranga is currently working with two hired dinghies. But the popularity of Sailability in Tauranga means they have to get more boats.

The Hansa 303s are designed especially for disabled sailors. They feature armchair style seating with the two passengers in the boat instead of on the gunwale. They are steered by a joystick and the centre board weighs 38kg, making them almost impossible to capsize. They can be sailed by one or two people. There are two sail that can be easily reduced in size by the crew. The class is international and is sailed in the para-Olympics.

Sailability Tauranga was established in June 2016 by a group of experienced sailors and compassionate citizens, wishing to share their accumulated years of sailing experience, and the joy and fun that sailing provides, with those who thought sailing was an inaccessible sport.

The mission is to provide people with any disability, the opportunity to sail safely, to experience adventure and freedom, building mobility, self-confidence and pride through achievement.

Sailability Tauranga provides sailing opportunities to people with physical, learning or sensory disabilities. This includes therapeutic, learn to sail and competitive sailing, proving there are no barriers to living.

Sailability Tauranga has 55 sailors registered and will be able to increase that number when it has more boats.

Sailability is based at the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, Sulphur Point, and uses the Centreboard Room downstairs.

Sailability needs about 15 volunteers each sailing day to run a safe efficient schedule. Sailability wants to hear from people who may be able to help out for a few hours a month. Contact Alice, at volunteers.stct@gmail.com

Two sailors are off to a Hansa Regatta at Lake Ngaroto 18/19 Nov. Alice Eminson will be sailing in her first regatta with Alister Eagleson as her crew and Paulien Chamberlain defending her title, ably assisted by crew Richard Chamberlain.

Sailability also has its first school booking, says bookings officer Susan Ludbrook.

'Otumoetai College Special Education Unit are sending 12 students for a sail. We are borrowing two boats from Rotorua Sailability for the day to make sure that all the students get ample time on the water. We are developing a specialised programme for the day with on land activities between sails.

December 9 is a Disability Awareness Event hosted by CCS and Sailability is invited to take part and showcase what Sailability Tauranga has to offer.

'There will be many other disability support services present so a great opportunity to promote ourselves. Providing the weather is suitable we will run our sailing day from the strand. Unfortunately there is no hoist available so we are not able to take our wheelchair sailors. We will make the City Council aware of this lack of public facility so everyone can enjoy this opportunity in the future., says Susan.

Sailability anticipates having one boat on the hard, rigged for display, two taking our regular sailors sailing and one for short sails for the general public. Once again two boats will be borrowed from Rotorua.