Northampton Sailability Celebrates Five Years Of Sail For Gold
End of racing season regatta now a mainstay on group calendar
Ability once again proved to have no boundaries as Northampton Sailability hosted its fifth annual Sail 4 Gold Regatta at Pitsford Reservoir on Saturday (29 August).
More than 20 sailors, both those with disabilities and able-bodied, in 14 boats took to the water for what has become a popular mainstay on the Northampton Sailability calendar since it was first run in celebration of the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2011.
Some 200 people of all ages and across the whole spectrum of physical and learning disabilities regularly sail with Northampton Sailability, as part of RYA Sailability, the national programme run by sailing’s national governing body encouraging and supporting people with a wide and diverse range of abilities to get into sailing.
The Sail for Gold Regatta traditionally marks the end of the Northampton Sailability racing season and gives the group’s dedicated able-bodied volunteers the chance to break their boats out and engage in some competitive racing with the sailors with disabilities that they tirelessly support throughout the summer.
Allan Henson, who first introduced the Sail for Gold Regatta to Northampton Sailability, once again took the friendly bragging rights with overall victory, while the group’s chairman Roy Child, sailing with treasurer Priscilla Davies finished second.
Roy said: “When we devised the event we wanted to make sure that everyone could participate whatever their ability. For example, we deliberately chose to have short races so that those with limited stamina could enter.
“We also agreed that our success criteria, apart from great feedback of course, would be seeing members and helpers in podium positions. I’m thrilled to say we have achieved both every year so I guess we have got the formula right.”
Sailing is one of the most inclusive sports around, as once on the water everybody competes on a level playing field. Through RYA Sailability over 53,000 young people and adults with disabilities are introduced to sailing each year, and many go on to sail on a regular basis.
Northampton Sailability is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety.For more information about Northampton Sailability visit www.northamptonsailability.org.uk or to learn more about RYA Sailability visit www.rya.org.uk/sailability