The Disabled Sailing Association (DSA) seeks to deliver a unique experience for adolescents and adults with disabilities.  Four specially adapted sailboats offer individual and companion sailing for sailors with any form of disability.  Additionally, these specially adapted boats are used in conjunction with COSA’s Learn-to-Sail programs, ensuring that both disabled and able-bodied students have the opportunity to learn together.

D.S.A.’s sailboats are Martin 16’s,  an Access Dinghy.   These are purpose built boats that provides ease of use and are able to accommodate various disabilities.  From a few boat-lengths away, the Martin 16 looks like a miniature America's Cup yacht.  With narrow beam, a plumb bow, bulb keel and an open transom, it has all the telltale signs of a pocket racing keelboat.  But up close, the Martin is unlike any keelboat or dinghy.  For one, the boat is steered, like a small plane, with a joystick that is positioned between the helmsperson's legs.  The pilot, so to speak, sits facing forward in a fully adjustable, moulded fibreglass seat.  The Martin 16 is a breakthrough in keelboat design in other ways as well.  There are NO LINES to strangle you, no boom to hit you in the cockpit area.  Both sails are self-tending (go the "right" side on their own) so the boat is ALWAYS controllable, even in heavy winds.

Another feature of this boat is that it cannot flip over or sink.  To accomplish this the boat has a ballasted centreboard, and enough flotation to keep the boat afloat even if full of water.

The sails themselves are trimmed by using the ropes fed under deck right in front of the sailor.  This can be accomplished in three ways, by hand, or can be set up to work off a power-assisted joystick that controls both the rudder and sails.  The third way is most interesting; it’s called ‘Sip and Puff’ control.  This system allows a sailor with a ‘high quadriplegia (no mobility below the neck) to steer and control the sails with their breath! 

For all this to be possible, you first need a few ingredients.  The Disabled Sailing Association, Okanagan Branch (Kelowna) has all of them.  They have a certified Canadian Yachting Association instructor that will provide sailing instructions to the members so they will acquire the skill and confidence to sail independently.  This instructor deals with three boats only.  In general, two boats will be on the water with a sailor who is able to safely sail independently. This enables the instructor to give full attention to a sailor that is not comfortable on his/her own.  The boats are equipped with two-way radios in case assistance is needed out on the water.

Some Testimonials:

"Since my accident, sailing was a very distant thought and only provided me with many great memories as I was lying in my bed at the hospital. Being on the water again was one of the most exciting things that has happened to me since my accident."

Danny McCoy, D.S.A. sailor

"Designer Don Martin has brought a lot of fresh thinking to the scene, and this boat deserves attention as a way to get more people sailing."

Gary Hoyt, Naval Architect

"The Martin 16 is the direction for boats of the future...she's safe and easy to sail, any beginner can do it! For competition the Martin 16 is beautifully rigged. The skipper sits forward and can see the sails. An excellent tactical One-Design."

Hans Fogh, Two-time Canadian Olympic Medallist

"...A stroke of genius, one line adjust two sails! The Martin 16 reduces sail training to a simple form...yet allows the competitive sailor a real One-Design opportunity where weight or age is NOT a factor."

Robie Pierce World Disabled Champion &
 1996 Atlanta Para Olympic USA Captain

For a wheelchair bound person (or any other mobility impairment) getting into a boat that’s bobbing in the water and moving around would be very difficult.  To solve this problem, the D.S.A has a system where the boat is sailed onto a boatlift, which lifts the boat out of the water and brings it alongside the dock.  This way a sailor can either step in the, now steady, boat or transfer there from their wheelchair.  There is also a device called a Hoyerlift, which can lift a sailor from their wheelchair and gently place him/her in the boat.  The boat is then lowered into the water and sailed away… Freedom!!

Another component of the D.S.A.’s program is sail boat racing.  The Martin 16 is a capable racer.  Some of the Kelowna sailors participated in a series of races that has taken them to places like Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Toronto and San Diego.

Several trophies are to be conquered thru the season; arguably the most coveted “The Mobility Cup”, a regatta held in a different Canadian city every year.  It offers two levels of racing, ‘The Golden Fleet’ for advanced racers and ‘The Silver Fleet’ for beginners and upcoming racers.  Due to this two tier system ‘Mobility Cup’ has become a meeting spot for sailors at top international adapted sailing level and beginners alike!

The DSA, Okanagan’s ‘homeport’ is at the Central Okanagan Sailing Association’s club site at Hobson Rd in Kelowna.

FOR COMMENTS AND/OR SUGGESTIONS:
DISABLED SAILING ASSOCIATION, OKANAGAN BRANCH:
Email: hvl@telus.net
Phone: 860-7990 or 717-0315

For more information about DSA Lessons please feel free to contact us.