Sailability Ireland is a not for profit organisation who promotes sailing for people with disabilities throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. Irish Sailing support this organisation to achieve its objectives in developing training, promoting sailing programmes and supporting regional and national events.

A unique event was organised in 2017 the WATERSPORTS INCLUSION GAMES – a weekend of on the water fun, parties and competition with sailing, rowing and canoeing activities for people with disabilities or people from disadvantaged areas and it comes to Lough Derg Yacht Club in Tipperary for 2020.

Watersports Inclusion Games Sep 5th & 6th Sept, Lough Derg

 A free event celebrating watersports for all abilities, no experience required

Our aims for inclusive sailing are:

• To provide the necessary support for people with disabilities to sail.
• Encourage sailing as an activity, primarily for pleasure, but also to facilitate those who desire to develop their competitive potential.
• Train volunteers, sailors, instructors, family and friends to facilitate sailors with disabilities to enjoy our sport.
• Develop and foster team spirit between able bodied and those with disabilities, through leisure and competitive sailing.

Access our interactive map on our Try Sailing web site HERE where you can try sailing in specially designed boats in locations across the country.

Which Boat?

There are a number of different boats designed and suited specifically for inclusive sailing. Here are a few ...

Hansa 303

The Hansa 303 is 3.3m long, has two sails and potential for two adults. It can be easily single-handed and is an ideal boat for building confidence for helming and/or single-handed sailing. Features include a hammock seat, joystick steering, fully reef-able mainsail and jib, high boom for head safety, weighted removable keel, very stable, no hiking out needed, virtually uncapsizable and easily maneuvered or transported on the roof of a car or trailer.

2.4 Metre

The 2.4 metre sailing boat is the newest class of sailing boat to be actively sailed in Ireland. Irish Sailing purchased 3 boats through the Sports Capital Programme in 2015 and there are currently 10 boats sailing in Ireland today – 4 in Dun Laoghaire, 3 in Carrickfergus, 2 in Kinsale and 1 in Galway. The first National Championships were held in June 2017 in the RStGYC as part of the Inclusion Games. Gina Giffin represented Ireland at the Para World Sailing Championships in Kiel and Gina and Patrick Hasset represented Ireland at the European Sailing Championships in Gdynia in 2017. The boat is specifically designed for people with disabilities and has optional foot or hand steering and can easily be adapted to suit the needs of any sailor

 Sonar

The Sonar is the 23-foot 3 person boat internationally acclaimed one-design with a sit-in cockpit and is the largest boat raced in the Paralympic Sailing Classes. When the wind pipes up you sit securely on side decks designed for security and hiking comfort. Angled seat backs and coamings are designed for comfort when heeled and recessed handholds offer extra security.A generous keel and deep spade rudder provide excellent lateral stability and control and the Sonar can easily turn in its own length. The keel to hull joint is designed to minimize damage in an accidental grounding.

Squib

The Squib is an exciting 19-foot, one design, racing and cruising day boat, for a crew of 2. The Squib is very stable and the sail area allows handing without great physical strength of either helm or crew. A spinnaker may be fitted if preferred and is a very easy boat to adopt to individuals needs. The greatest aspect of this boat is that it is a very popular boat throughout Ireland in mainstream sailing and sailing for people with disabilities so both sailors can compete on equal basis and enjoy true inclusive competition.

Contact us

National Contact:

Please get in touch with Ciaran Murphy ciaran.murphy@sailing.ie / 087 8800744 with any questions or if you want to know more about Sailability Sailing in your area.

Access our interactive map of Try Sailing locations with specialised boats for disabled sailing here.