With more than 120 sailors competing in over 70 boats, the UK’s biggest disability sailing event of its kind took place on the weekend of 05–07 July at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), home of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The RYA Sailability Multiclass Regatta has evolved over the years and is now a real festival for disabled sailing and a celebration of the impact sailing can have.
Seven people made the long arduous journey to Weymouth to represent Waveney Sailability. Bob and Caroline stayed in a nearby hotel and travelled back and forth on their bicycles. Jackie and Mike were in their motorhome on site, Owen and Jerry camped nearby and Tony’s sleeping arrangements are best not mentioned!
Bob entered the team racing on Friday afternoon not really knowing what to expect. He partnered Tim from Chesil, the local Sailability Club. When he came ashore he was very excited saying what brilliant non-stop racing it was. That evening we learned that they had come first and won the trophy. Bob is keen for us to try it on Oulton Broad!
Jackie and Mike were given the ’easy’ job of tallying all the competitors on to and off the water. Because of an administrative error it became a ‘not so easy’ job. The sun was so fierce on Friday that a gazebo was erected to protect them from the heat. Saturday the tally board had to be in place at 9am; the first race started at 10am and it was a long sail to the sailing course, out of the harbour and into Weymouth bay. Our 3 gallant competitors duly went to sea, Bob and Tony in the Hansas and Owen in a borrowed 2.4. Jerry was on hand to help the safety team. They all enjoyed it; especially the afternoon racing as the wind strengthened and they all came in soaked from the waves. The wind became too much for the tally guys as it almost blew the gazebo into the sea and it was hastily taken down.
The Italian dinner in the evening was delayed a bit because it took so long to get the racers off the water but it was a good get-together and gave us time to chat and promote our forthcoming TT event. Bob was presented with the team-racing trophy. Unfortunately, Owen was not so happy as the dossette box containing his medication had disappeared; we think it blew into the water from the pontoon.
Sunday was overcast and not such a good day for our competitors. Owen was feeling unwell and, although he went out to race he retired and he and Jerry set off home early. There was some confusion on the water and Bob came in because someone told him the racing had finished when it hadn’t and he was most upset. Tony did really well winning one race and coming second in another. He actually came third overall with 9 points and we expected him to be presented with a trophy but they only went to 1st and 2nd places. Bob came 6th with 14 points. Having to go home early meant Owen didn’t do enough races to qualify.
It was a great weekend and we all learned a lot but it is a long way to go and whether any of us would do it again remains to be seen. We would also like to thank Tony and Jerry for towing boats to Weymouth, and of course many thanks to John Davis and his team for organising the boat loading ready for towing.
