Wind, Sun and Spray

By Merle Hickey

The seventh annual Mobility Cup Regatta will take place in Calgary, Alberta, from August 24 to 29, 1997.

The Mobility Cup is Canada’s International Regatta for Disabled Sailors. The purpose of the regatta is to promote public awareness of the capabilities of people with significant disabilities, and to provide those with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a competitive, world-class event.

When Margaret Thatcher gave Rick Hansen a British-made Sunbird sailboat in honour of his Man in Motion tour in 1986, she did not know that her gift would open up the world of sailing to thousands of people with mobility-related disabilities across Canada! In 1989, Rick Hansen asked Sam Sullivan, founder of the Mobility Opportunities Society, to use this specially adapted sailboat to start a sailing program for people with disabilities. This led to the birth of the Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia (DSA-BC).

The program started in 1989 with this single Sunbird sailboat (still affectionately known as the "Iron Lady"), and now, eight years later, DSA-BC has 400 sailors in chapters in Victoria, Vancouver and Kelowna.

In 1991, the Disabled Sailing Association of B.C. hosted the first regatta for sailors with disabilities -- the Mobility Cup. With the input from members with disabilities, DSA-BC developed the "High-Quad" Sunbird: a fully automated sailboat adapted with a sip-and-puff control mechanism, allowing sailors with high-level quadriplegia to sail independently. This sailboat was the first of its kind in the world.

Rene Dallaire, a Montreal sailor who is high-level quadriplegic, had this to say after sailing the High-Quad Sunbird for his first time:

"Sailing is so exciting! Before I tried it, I never thought it would be possible. Sailing has rekindled my enthusiasm and desire to compete -- it brings me a great sense of liberty and pleasure. I know that I will be sailing for many years."

However, although the High-Quad Sunbird was functional, the required equipment and safety modifications affected the performance of the boat. This made the boat less competitive than the others. DSA-BC consulted with world-renowned yacht designer/builder Don Martin, and together they designed the Martin 16. It is the first sailboat designed and built from scratch for people with disabilities that is also a high-performance sailboat for regular sailors.

Eight Martin 16s were added to Mobility Cup ’96, which was attended by 32 competitors from North America and held during the last week of June, 1996, in B.C.

Going into the last day of Mobility Cup ’96, six competitors were within reach of first place -- including me. Local sailors Brent Foote and Jamie Whitman took two wins in their respective races on the last day, to finish first and second, respectively. Alice Tidwell of Oroville, California, finished third, while I faltered in the light winds to finish sixth -- looks like I’m in next year country!

The Disabled Sailing Association of Alberta, of which I am a member, was established in 1994 and based upon the successful program in British Columbia. DSA-Alberta started as a three-week trial program sponsored by the Glenmore Sailing Club, a number of local businesses, and DSA-BC, which loaned us a Sunbird. In 1995, we purchased four Martin 16 sailboats, and our program was off and running.

Our interest in the Mobility Cup began as competitors. In 1995, we learned that Sam Sullivan was interested in seeing the event held in other provinces, in order to promote sailing for people with disabilities on a national basis. Dale Keith, fellow competitor and Commodore of DSA-Alberta for the last two years, saw the opportunity as a way to raise the awareness of this sport significantly in Alberta. DSA-Alberta decided last July to host the event in 1997.

This year’s regatta is unique. The Mobility Cup ’97 has been approved by the Canadian Yachting Association as Canada’s Qualifying Regatta for the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) Single-Handed Class. The top Canadian sailors will qualify to compete at the IFDS North/South American Regional Regatta in St. Petersburg, Florida, in October, 1997; they will also qualify for the IFDS Worlds in Newport, Rhode Island, August 15-20, 1998, competing in the International 2.4-Metre class.

We are particularly pleased that Calgary will host the first Mobility Cup outside the province of British Columbia. And this is the first time that the regatta will be sailed on inland waters.

Sailing programs for people with disabilities have been operating or are being established in a number of centres across the country. These programs are often supported by a local sailing club. Centres currently include Dartmouth, Moncton, Montreal, Toronto, Waterloo, Nepean (Ottawa), the Manitoba Sailing Association, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria.

Supporters of sailing as a recreational and rehabilitation program for people with disabilities are inspired by the realization that the lakes and oceans of Canada serve as a great healer and equalizer.

People with disabilities can leave their wheelchairs behind and enjoy the independence and freedom that everyone else savours when wind, sun and spray join forces to make a perfect sailing day.

(Merle Hickey is 1997 Commodore with the Disabled Sailing Association of Alberta. For more information on the Mobility Cup ’97, contact him at: DSA-Alberta, 200 Rivercrest Dr. S.E., Ste. 185, Calgary, AB, T2C 2X5; tel.: (403) 238-0689; fax: (403) 275-6884. The Disabled Sailing Internet website is: http://www.footeprint.com/sailingweb/.)