Sailability at RPYC

Sailability WA run a sailing program at Royal Perth Yacht Club which offers people with disabilities the opportunity to sail regardless of their level of ability, skill, or personal circumstances. They need volunteers to help out!

There are plenty of jobs for everyone and the feedback is that the experience is very rewarding!! Everyone loves to see the pleasure the sailing program brings to the disabled participants. It is a chance for them to have freedom & independence they don’t often experience. Some knowledge or interest in sailing would be great but is not essential as we can train you and there are also shore duties for those who prefer not to go out on the water.

The season starts on 15th October and will conclude towards the end of December 2017. You don't need to commit to the whole season, we just need you to be reliable with the day you decide to volunteer.

During the season the program runs on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings.
On Wednesday and Thursday we have 2 sails, 10am & 11am. Volunteers come to Royal Perth Yacht Club at approx. 9.30 to start rigging the boats & helping the participants get ready for sailing. The morning concludes at approximately 12.30 when everything has been de-rigged and packed away.

The activities are as follows:

Wednesday am: participants who are mobile enough to get on board a boat without being hoisted out of a wheelchair. Mainly Intellectually disabled.

Thursday am: high support: participants who need to be hoisted out of a wheelchair and laid into beanbags in the cockpit of the yacht. Both physically and Intellectually severely disabled.

Sunday am: participants who can be taught to sail with the aim to help them become independent sailors. Mainly physically disabled.

Generally, we ask that you commit to one morning a week, however, you are welcome to help out as often as you wish. Sailing assistants will help with meeting and greeting disabled participants and their carers, get life jackets fitted onto participants, assist people along the floating jetties to the boats, help load, unload boats with people, assist as crew on yachts, help with rigging & de-rigging boats, rescue boat assistance, etc.

Experience with disabled people is a bonus, but not essential. Many aspects of the disabled sailing program involve dealing directly with people with intellectual or physical disabilities, so sensitivity and compassion are required. Some severely disabled participants are hoisted into the boats, but no lifting is required by the volunteers. Some pulling of ropes is required if crewing on the yachts.