DYC will host the Inaugural INAS International Sailing Championships

by Shauna Phillips on 1 Aug 2015 Docklands Yacht Club in Melbourne, Australia, will conduct the Inaugural INAS International Sailing Championships for sailors with an intellectual disability.

The club has now published the Notice of Race for the Championships that will be conducted on Victoria Harbour, adjacent to Melbourne’s Central Business District, from January 22-26 next year.

The global aim of the event is to assist the development of a competition pathway for sailors with intellectual disabilities that is closely aligned to the mainstream sport. The local aim is to put on a high quality championship regatta in an outstanding location for this disadvantaged athlete group.

The Championships will be conducted over five days with four days of fleet races conducted in three divisions:
• Single person (one sailor with a classified intellectual disability) in the Hansa 2.3 class
• Two person (two sailors with a classified intellectual disability) in the Hansa 303 class
• Two person supported (where a non-classified sailor accompanies a classified sailor) in the Hansa 303 class

The competition will be sailed on the waters of Victoria Harbour with the City of Melbourne a spectacular background. This unique venue is a safe, protected waterway with excellent spectator viewing of the racing area. It is close to transport, accommodation, dining, entertainment and cultural facilities.

The City of Melbourne’s Community Boating Hub will be opened in late 2015 and the INAS International Sailing Championships will be the first major regatta conducted from the new facility.

It is anticipated that the event will attract up 100 competitors from six nations, with Australians making up a significant proportion of the fleet. A large number of charter boats will be provided for International competitors by Sailability programs at Victorian and interstate yacht clubs.

Eligibility rules for the event will be governed by the ISAF Eligibility Code with classified sailors with an intellectual disability registered on the INAS Master List.

For online entry and further information, visit website.