Disabled Sailing in Canada and The U.S.A.
Canada
The Adaptive Sailing Association of British Columbia (ASABC) (formerly DSABC) has been providing opportunities for people with physical disabilities to experience recreational and competitive sailing in fully accessible sailboats for over 30 years. Updated
Sailing for people with significant physical disabilities got its start in Canada in 1989, when Sam Sullivan used a British-made Sunbird dinghy to launch the first few sails at the Jericho Sailing Centre on English Bay. Today, the ASABC operates eight specially designed Canadian made Martin 16 sailboats and hosts 1000+ sails each (non-COVID) year at Jericho and more from its affiliated branches in Victoria, Chemainus, and Kelowna. The Martin 16 sailboat is designed specifically to be accessible for all levels of ability, with use of either a joystick control or sip and puff technology. Participants range from novices to experienced racers who advance to join the Race Club, representing ASABC in local regattas and national competitions.
Inspired by ASABC and Sam Sullivan's efforts to expose more and more people with very high levels of physical disabilities to the sport, adaptive sailing has now spread across Canada, throughout the US and around the world. Disabled sailing played a major role in the Summer Paralympics every four years up until 2020 when it was dropped for the Tokyo Paralympics. See the post Para Sailing will not be included in the Paralympic Games for LA28.
There are several other training and competitive programs throughout Canada such as:
- AbleSail Network / Réseau Voile Adaptée. The ASN is the custodian of the Mobility Cup / Coupe Mobilité Regatta, Canada's international regatta for sailors with a disability[Canada] Updated
The AbleSail Network website has a list of links to other sites for disabled sailing organizations in Canada by province. See AbleSail Network's member programs are not-for-profit organizations that provide accessible sailing programs.
- Sail Canada: Cansail Para.
U.S.
Adaptive Sailing, once part of the Disabled Sports USA organization, is now part of the new Move United organization that was created when Disabled Sports USA merged with the Adaptive Sports USA organization in 2020. [Wikipedia] Updated
Move United is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The organization (headquartered in Rockville, Maryland) operates community parasports programs through over 210 member organizations in 45 states. Mission: Ensuring everyone, regardless of ability, experiences the life-changing power of sport and is included in their community.
Follow Move United in one of several social media aps. New
- Facebook #MoveUnitedSports: Move United Sport
- Instagram @MoveUnitedSports: Move United
- Twitter @MoveUnitedSports: Move United
- YouTube @MoveUnited: Move United
There are several adaptive sailing training and competitive programs throughout the U.S. such as:
- US Sailing – Adaptive Sailing. Sail Without Limits.
- Any boat can be adapted: Adaptive Sailing Equipment.
- American Sailing Association (ASA) ASA Sailing Schools in Maryland
- Baltimore, Maryland's Downtown Sailing Center Adaptive Sailing
- Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB). Provides the therapeutic benefits of sailing to people with disabilites, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved communities. There is no cost for sailing with CRAB. CRAB relies on donations to support its operational and facilities costs. New
- Challenged Sailors San Diego
- Community Sailing New Orleans, Inc. Adaptive Sailing Programs
- Hudson River Community Sailing
- Lake Harriet Adaptive Sailing Program [Lake Harriet Yacht Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota]
- Para World Sailing Updated
- Sail Sand Point: Seattle's Community Boating Center Adaptive Sailing.
- Tantillo Adaptive Sailing Foundation [Seattle]