Try sailing simulator at Sydney Boat Show

by Graeme Adam on 11 Jul 2005 Visitors to the 2005 Sydney International Boat Show – July 28 to August 2 - will be able to try their hand at sailing a dinghy without leaving shore.

Sailability NSW and Access Dinghies will have a sailing simulator on their joint stand (130E), based on the hull of a 2.3 metre Access dinghy and utilising a computer program to prompt the ‘virtual sailor’ and measure his/her skill.

According to Neil Anderson, President of Sailability NSW, the simulator will be a big drawcard to the joint stand. ‘The simulator has been developed by respected yacht designer Frank Bethwaite. It has roll motion and a screen on the bow which monitors the sailor's progress around a race course, complete with timing. It has the usual joy-stick steering and mainsheet controls that are found on an Access’. In addition, a fully-rigged Access 303 sailing dinghy will be on display on the stand.

Australian-designed and made Access Dinghies are the dominant design amongst the 45 Sailability clubs around Australia. They allow even those sailors with severe disabilities to show their considerable skills - in boats with outstanding performance. And yet they are just as suitable for sailors of all abilities and ages.

In addition to experiencing the simulator, stand visitors can win a Zodiac Cadet Compact Inflatable, kindly donated by Zodiac Group Australia, along with a 3hp outboard, with a total value $2530. Tickets are $2 each and the raffle will be drawn on 9th October.

Sailability is the the BIA-nominated charity of the Sydney International Boat Show and its President, Ian McAndrew commented: ‘Sailability, as part of its vision, is keen to attract more members, more volunteers and to gather community support.

The BIA is delighted to be able to give Sailability NSW the opportunity to showcase its operations with a stand at the Sydney Boat Show.’ This is the seventh year in which Sailability NSW has been honoured in this way.

The stand will be manned by well-informed NSW members and volunteers ready to answer questions and arrange membership and is one of eight state or territory organisations under the umbrella of Sailability Australia and is part of the world-wide organisation. Sailability is organised and manned entirely by volunteers. In NSW alone, there are 23 branches, each running regular sailing days.