[Yknot-list] Accessible Sailing: The Great Canadian Accessble Program Network

[Keith Hobbs]

      La voile accessible sailing
      --------------------------
      Update / Le point
      2005 ~ 12
     
      December 31, 2005

      ===>Just as 2005 transforms to 2006 in the twinkling of a star, or the click of a mouse, so too do new sailing opportunities emerge.

      You know of the Great Canadian Accessible Sailboat Fleet but what of the Great Canadian Accessible Program Network? You'll be pleased to discover that you already have one of those too!

      This is probably a good time of year to reflect on the programs and services available to us, and to consider what our connection is to the official sailing network.

      My role with CYA and sailing overall is strictly as a volunteer. I chair the CYA accessible sailing committee, produce this newsletter and liaise with sailors and programs across the country to support all events and class associations.

      These newsletters go to CYA and PSA staff/volunteers, all accessible program operators and many individual sailors across the country. In that regard, we welcome Shelley Gautier as the new commodore of DSAO in Toronto.

      Thanks for your ongoing feedback. It's nice to know that these newsletters are appreciated, but it's even more important that I know of any issues that you believe need to be resolved within our sport governance network.

      For 2006 we will have some exciting new developments. Sport Canada has provided us with funding for a Sport Participation and Development Program that enables communications initiatives across the country and the hosting of clinics in most provinces to engage new sailors and improve the skills of those with experience. Additionally, we are building into the CYA Fundamental Course for instructors a theory module on disability awareness / accessible sailing and well as creating a separate practical module to apply this knowledge / skill. 

      Let's back up a moment.

      What is the CYA

      The CYA is the national authority on the sport of sailing in Canada. Details at http://www.sailing.ca/about/organization

      Also, helpful to any discussion is knowledge of CYA's vision and mission as found at http://www.sailing.ca/about/strategic.shtm 

      It is you the sailors and organizational members of CYA that form our strength and potential for excellence.

      How are we organized?

      CYA itself is an organization led by volunteers with program development and delivery through professional staff and trained volunteers.

      Key components of the network are you the sailor and accessible program operator.

      The primary funding source is Sport Canada which recognizes the CYA as the official governing body for sailing across the country.

      CYA members include Clubs http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/clubs.shtm Class Associations http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/class.shtm Schools http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/schools.shtm Camps http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/camps.shtm and affiliated organizations http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/affiliated.shtm all for which CYA represents sailing at all levels.

      Through the CYA and it's (your) provincial sailing associations (PSA's) http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/provincial.shtm we are building sustainable networks that foster inclusion through sailing as leisure, recreation and sport.

      Together, we provide sailing access for persons with disabilities across Canada and help programs with everything from fundraising to volunteer recruitment, strategic planning, compiling best practices, standardized manuals and training programs to ensure that the maximum number of persons with disabilities benefit from our collective endeavours.

      Accessible program organizers have varying degrees of understanding of what CYA does for them, just as with all other programs; but we can build on that knowledge to make your program and our national network the best it can be.

      What does it do?

      The way the system operates, the PSA's work directly and actively with local programs to ensure needs are being met. Part of CYA's role is to equip the provinces to work directly with the membership. As we all know, there is quite a range in size and needs of programs by province and similarly in the capacity of each PSA to act. In Ontario home to over 50% of accessible -- able sail -- programs, there is dedicated PSA staff http://ontariosailing.ca/Programs/Accessible_Sailing/index.php and a dedicated accessible program network of the CYA family. This is not to say that the other PSA's are any less prepared to address the needs and interests of sailors with a disability. PSA representatives bring matters to my attention;I know that they care. And I'm willing to help wherever, I can. If anyone in Canada is aware of variances or inadequacies, I'm happy to intervene on your behalf and with your assistance.

      How to help?

      It's not only a matter of what can CYA and its PSA's do for you but what can you offer to expand sailing opportunities in your community and demonstrate support for your official provincial / national sport / recreation bodies.

      So where is Canada in the dawning of a new year? Are all sailors on the same page? Take for example, IFDS's equipment decision for the Paralympic two-person event. Sailors being sailors continue individual discussions about whether this was the right equipment or even the right event. You will even recall that in 2004, IFDS tested http://sailing.org/disabled/Evaluation_Safety_Report_2004.pdf two different formats and equipment options as possible additions to the Paralympics.

      Important issues for all of us -- some of whom have been actively involved for over fifteen years -- are the sustainability of all elements of each program and succession planning to ensure appropriate leadership and direction. The answers vary with each program but let's continue to explore solutions in common.

      Where do we go from here?

      Can the network be improved? It's your network, so have your say. There is no need to reinvent the wheel when one can just improve upon what is currently being done. In this way we can avoid fragmenting the resources available to all sailors in Canada.

      I welcome continued dialogue on how to make the network better and to make the official world practical to sailors and program organizers across the country.

      You get a lot now from your network that you may take for granted, whether it's learn-to-sail or learn-to-race, regattas, instructor and program liability insurance.

      In addition, there are class associations http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/class.shtm available to support enthusiasts of one boat design or another.

      It's CYA and the PSA's role to offer a forum to all these various interests without need for an agent or an umbrella union as an intermediary that would only add another layer to our communications.

      I've been advocating for changes in CYA / PSA's handling of accessible sailing and appreciate your contributions to the thought process.

      New ideas are welcome from our partners and all sources. 


      As indicated in each monthly newsletter for the last two years, this information is also posted in the CYA's open discussion forum of its Message Board, which welcomes your constructive input at http://www.sailing.ca/scripts/discus/discus.cgi 

      So there you have it, the Great Accessible Program Network and illustrated further down the page, the Great Canadian Accessible Sailboat Fleet -- based on this newsletter's survey in fall 2005, updating its work from the previous year.

      Send news. Get news.

      ---Keith

      Ken Kelly reports: The 2006 IFDS World Championships take place in Perth Australia January 16-26th. Canada will have strong representation in both fleets with sailors from BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia competing. CYA will provide solid coaching My team is leaving for Australia this Friday and will spend 10 days training in Perth prior to the event. See the event website http://www.2006ifdsworlds.com.au/ for details. Since this event conflicts with the dates of Miami OCR, I do not believe there will be any Canadian Disabled Sailors competing in Miami this year. There was also a strong Canadian team competing at the Americas Regatta in St Petersburg (Nov 5-7th). Bruce Millar was 2nd, Paul Tingley 4th in the 2.4 Meter Class. My team (Brian Mackie, Don Terlson and myself) finished 2nd in the Sonar Class. The Event was preceded by a training Camp with Brian Todd (CYA) and Betsy Allison (US Sailing). 


      Doug Nutting's note: Storm Force Winds Don't Stop CFSA/DSABC, Victoria Fundraiser. 
      The Canadian Forces Sailing Association, Esquimalt Squadron (CFSA) kicked off the New Year with a New Year's Day Regatta, with proceeds going to the Disabled Sailing Association of BC, Victoria Branch (DSABC, Victoria). The day kicked off with breakfast at 9:00 am prepared by Carter MacDonald and his crew from Iolaire. Breakfast was by donation and CFSA members got in the giving mode right from the start. Unfortunately, a forecast of storm force winds lowered attendance and resulted in a cancelation of racing for the day. The top gust on New Year's Day was measured at over 50 knots. However, CFSA being the innovative bunch that they are, chose to test the skills and knowledge of each crew, in attendance, with a seamanship quiz, knot tying contest, and shanty or jig competition. In the tradition of on water marshals and the assignment of fines, the race committee and jury fined crews for singing off key, protesting fines, not displaying enough enthusiasm, and general whining. $614 was raised for DSABC, Victoria and a good time was had by all. Thanks to the members of CFSA, Esquimalt for their support of DSABC, Victoria and starting the New Year in such a committed fashion. 

      Aimée Hennessy advises that the January edition of the Canadian Sailing Review is now available at http://www.sailing.ca/newsletter/  Les Actualités de l'ACY pour le mois de Janvier sont maintenant disponibles à http://sailing.ca/fr/newsletter/ 


      New funding for Ontario athletes: all proceeds from the sales of the Quest for Gold instant tickets will be used to support Ontario's amateur athletes. Details http://ontariosailing.ca/media_lib/DOCs/News/Quest_For_Gold_Lottery__Announcemrnt.doc



      The Great Canadian Accessible Sailboat Fleet


            BOATS BC AB SK MB ON QC NB NS NF Totals 
             2.4mR 2    15     17 
             Access 5 2   50 5 2 3 2 69 
             Challenger Tri.     1     1 
             Freedom/Ind.-20     1  1 1  3 
             Hobie-Trapseat 14 2   3     19 
             Martin-16 14 5 1 6 18 5 2   51 
             Mini-12 12    4     16 
             Sonar 3 1   1     5 
             Sunbird   1   1    2 
             Other keelboats      6     6 
            TOTALS 50 10 2 6 99 11 5 4 2 189 

      Notes: 
         1) this data does not include the boats used by Queens Quay Yachting with the CHIRS program, nor the Lake Joseph YC program with CNIB, nor Bronte Harbour YC's keelboats for its annual program for persons with a visual impairment.
         2) for strategic planning purposes with its Long Term Sailor Development Model, the CYA needs to put on paper a boat progression model for the development classes for athletes with a disability just as it does for its other programs, where for example one moves from an Optimist to a 420 then a 29er and then Olympic class boats. In our case the obvious categories are the cat rigged Access 2.3 for entry level, then all the sloop classes: Martin-16, 303, Liberty, Challenger, Trapseat, Freedom-20, with the Martin-T/Martin162 at the top prior to the three Paralympic classes of 2.4mR, UD-18 and Sonar. This is an exercise of logic on paper where in reality one can start anywhere in the system if you have the capabilities to handle the boat.


      Previous newsletters / Future News

      This and previous issues of Update / Le Point are posted on the CYA Message Board. http://www.sailing.ca/scripts/discus/discus.cgi which offers an open forum for discussion.

      Looking forward to promoting accessible sailing together.

      Send news as it happens.


      Keith Hobbs
      keith.c.hobbs at sympatico.ca
      Chair, Accessible Sailing
      Canadian Yachting Association
      http://www.sailing.ca/learnmore/disabilities/ and
      http://www.sailing.ca/competitive/disabilities/

      CYA Staff
      http://www.sailing.ca/about/staff/staff2.shtm

      CYA's Provincial Sailing Associations
      http://www.sailing.ca/services/organizations/provincial.shtm

      CYA's national partner, the ALACD:
      Active Living Alliance for Canadians with Disabilities
      http://www.ala.ca/content/home.asp

      ALACD Community Development Representatives
      http://www.ala.ca/Content/Contact/Overview.asp?langid=1 


      Please advise of address change
     
         


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