On land I can't do much but on water it's totally different experience

by ISAF on 2 Oct 2015 At the end of August ten sailors from six countries, supported by their coaches, attended the first ISAF Paralympic Development Program clinic in Weymouth and Portland, Great Britain.

Led by Betsy Alison, US Sailing Paralympic Coach and Chair of the Disabled Sailing Committee, with support from Matt Grier, Royal Yachting Association Paralympic Development Coach and Jacob Haug, a 2.4mR coach sailors and coaches were put through their paces.

Throughout the clinic sailors benefited from on-water expertise, sailing in the Paralympic one-person keelboat, the 2.4mR, as well as daily on-shore briefings.

What They Said:

Hong Kong - Kin Wah Lam

'I'm a polio patient since I was young so running around has been really something I hoped for. On land I can't do much about but on water it's a totally different experience. I can feel the freedom and go wherever I want to go. I point my boat there and it takes me there.

'In an 11km area we have eight million people. If you're in a wheelchair then people don't like you because you're in the way. So a lot of my friends they are forced to stay at home which is a pity. It's like a prison. What we have seen here now is that if they are brave enough to come and try this they won't go home, they will love it.'

Portugal - Joao Pinto

'I embraced the injury, because it's for life, it's a complete injury and you're going to wake up every day and cry about it. I feel good and I just live with it. It's a different form of living, but I'm living.

'I started sailing and things are going well and it's a hell of an experience. To have the opportunity to be called up and have this privilege is the cherry on top of the cake.

'These guys are the best. They're going to tell you how to work these boats. You might be good but you don't know everything. As long as someone tells you to try this and try that and you get the opportunity and you're successful, it's the best. You feel very confident, grateful and in my case I embrace my injury even more. Let's go sail.'

South Africa - Mandy Latimore

'I've been in a wheelchair for 35 years. Right from the start my mum said, 'just because your legs don't work it doesn't change you as a person'. I carried on with my motorbikes, scuba diving, flying aero-planes and I even wing walked.

'I've always wanted to represent my country and for me I'm determined to keep sailing competitively. I have always tried to be the best and the ultimate is representing your country and being the best in your field.'

The PDP aims to:

• Support the development of national disabled / Paralympic development programs within ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs).
• Increase attendance by nations at events using Paralympic classes of equipment i.e Sailing World Cup / Disabled Sailing World Championships / Paralympic Games qualification events.
• Increase the number of classified sailors registered within ISAF member nations.
• Enable ISAF member nations involved in the program to develop sustainable grass roots 'participation' oriented disabled sailing activity to feed 'performance' programs.

Following the clinic, nations will be offered the opportunity to make use of five charter boats supplied by Charger Composites of Finland in Australia for the second clinic that will be held in Melbourne, Australia in advance of the 2015 Disabled Sailing Worlds that is scheduled for twenty-four November to three December.

Costs of attending these events will be heavily subsidised by ISAF.

An outline of the program and information on how to get involved can be found on the ISAF website.