OUR STORIES
Shepparton’s Carl Russell and Roy Hill returned victorious from the Victorian Hansa Class Championships in Brighton in March 2015, placing second in their class.
Mr Russell has been participating in the Shepparton Sailability program, a volunteer-run organisation that teaches people of all abilities how to sail, for the past three years.
Mr Russell was left with an acquired brain injury after a motorcycle crash several years ago and is now in a wheelchair.
He and Sailability president Roy Hill travelled to the Royal Brighton Yacht Club to compete in the Victorian championships in the Hansa 303 two-person class.
Through eight races over two days, the pair faced strong winds with large waves and gained three third placings, two second placings and two first placings, putting them second overall in their class.
Mr Hill said the weekend had been a success.
‘‘Carl was sailing and I was bailing water out of the yacht — he was always keen to push on and never gave up,’’ he said.
‘‘Carl managed the yacht nearly all the time, except when I assisted with starts, talked him through tactics and holding a course, and helped with tacking and gybing in difficult situations.
‘‘We were made very welcome and they thanked us for making the effort to attend,’’ Mr Hill said.
Sailability uses six stable Access yachts that seat two people — an instructor and a sailor — and runs every Tuesday and Thursday during summer to take participants out on two 30-minute sails at Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton.
Article Supplied by The Shepparton News
Carl Competes
When we started we were sailing off the sand beach at the south end of the Shepparton Lake. Volunteers had to lift and lower the keels, which weighed about 25 kilo’s when coming into and departing the beach.
Also, sailors of all abilities had to walk into shallow water to get into the yachts and we were unable to use the lift crane to put wheelchair sailors into the yachts.
After seeing the pontoon system that the Nagambie rowing club use, which was ideal for our needs, we decided to investigate the possibility of building our own.
This project illustrated the positive community support that Shepparton Sailability is able to give and receive beyond our primary focus. With support from the Shepparton Council and assistance from The Shepparton Men’s Shed it was decided to proceed with the project.
The pontoons consist of 4 floating sections measuring 6 meters x 2.5 meters giving a total 60sq meters area. Their low height above the water and the large working area allows easy access for wheelchairs and the easy and safe use of the lift crane. Also, sailors and volunteers can board and alight the yachts without getting their feet wet.
We had 2 pontoons in the water by April 2012. Being able to walk on and off the yachts and sail into and out of the pontoons made the whole experience safer and more enjoyable and made our service accessible to more people.
By early September 2013, we had them permanently positioned and anchored ready for the coming sailing season.
Thanks to Greater Shepparton City Council, Shepparton Men’s Shed and Woodturners, Nagambie Rowing Club (for the plans), Clarke Rubber Shepparton (for assisting with the foam), Mooroopna Mitre 10 (for assisting with the timber), and the Shepparton Sailability volunteers for helping to build our wonderful pontoons. Many Thanks is also extended to the Shepparton Lions Club for financing this project.