Quinte SailAbility is a sailing school for persons with a physical or developmental disability, regardless of age or degree of disability. Founded in 2001 and serving the greater Quinte area, the school has grown to be one of the largest in Ontario. It operated out of the CFB Trenton Yacht Club from 2001 until 2018. Quinte SailAbility moved its program in 2020, and now co-located at the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club in Belleville. Quinte SailAbility is proud to continue its goal to be accessible, affordable and active. Through the use of technology, barriers are eliminated, providing the therapeutic benefits of sailing on one’s own.Our speaker today is Brett Lyons. Brett is currently serving as public relations on the Quinte Sailability board. He has cerebral palsy and has sailed with quinte sailability since its start. This program gave him so much, ensuring its future was a natural transition for him. He is eager to spread the word of the impact of their program for many years!
Brett explained that as any kid, he liked to get wet and fool around. At the age of 12, he became involved in Quinte Sailability. He is proof of the benefits of the program because it has given him opportunities and he would not be able to share his story with us today without the program.
Last year Quinte Sailability moved to a new home in Belleville. The weeds at the CFB Trenton Yacht were causing too many problems including costing money.
Quinte Sailability helps the sailors in many ways. They feel like athletes. If they can go sailing, there is nothing else they can't do.
Operating budget:
wages 69%
Insurance 13%
Maintenance / fuel 4%
Total $27,551
Administration only $400 or 1.6%
Funding comes from service clubs (28%), Corporate sponsors (9%), Government (17%), Memberships (27%), fund raising (16%) etc
They can't do it without us - service clubs.
Cost to teach students is $38/session. Fee they charge students is $11.40/session. Many of the sailors on subsidy. Our help puts sailors in the boats.
42 Volunteers put in over 2300 hours.
They have 18 regular forces personnel who volunteer. The volunteers from the military are great because they are self starters and know how to get things done. The impact on volunteers and teachers is positive too. They see what the sailors with disabilities are capable of.
The newest boat 'Rotary Way' was supported by Rotary Clubs. They have 4 Martin boats that allow 8 sailors to compete in races competitively.
Their boats are anti tip and can be operated by those with disabilities. Their access dinghy's will not tip. They build confidence.
Recently they acquired a catamaran, donated from Britian when they heard of the great program at Quinte Sailability. This boat allows some of the more advanced sailors to progress further, more challenging.
The instructors not only are good sailors and teachers, but treat the students like athletes. This respect and attitude is transferable off the water to other aspects of the sailor's life.
Their sailing programs include:
Learn to sail
Cansail certification
recreational
Cruising
Therapeutic
Racing
Race Team of which Brett is a part and is dear to his heart. They have built reputation and pedigree. It provides an outlet for their competitive nature and there are limited avenues for this in the area.
During the summer season they race competitively on Thursday nights as practice for the regattas they participate in. This has gotten them notices by others at the Yacht club.
At Quinte Sailability they accept and teach both those with physical disabilities as well as mental.
Brett himself placed 2nd in a Hamilton regatta but his even greater pleasure is coaching and assisting younger / newer sailing students. They have no age limit.
Fletch built and left a legacy and it took several people to fill his shoes. Including Brett who has a long and close relationship developed at Quinte Sailability with Fletch.
Attending various regattas allows them to build relationships with other sailors from across Ontario and Canada.
They have a relationship with CN Rail who transports their boats across Canada. The Mobility Cup is the biggest regatta and moves to different locations across the country.
In 2001 they had 4 boats. Now they have 11 including Rotary Way and Rotary Spirit.
At Quinte Sailability they are also helping other new clubs grow and develop, including one in BC and couple in New Brunswick.
Brett says it is impossible to be in a bad mood on the docks. There is an energy on the dock.
They never turn anyone down. They find a way to make it work and successful. It is important what they do.
Brett will invite us to the dock to see first hand what they do next summer. They are in development to update their web page and newsletter.
Sailing is for life. It gives the sailors a freedom they find no where else. They are in control and by themselves.