Issue date
Sailability Whangarei now has all tide access with the development of a new jetty with a wheelchair accessable ramp officially opened on 21 August.
Back in November 2011 a branch of Sailability was formed in Whangarei with two 303 Hansa yachts and a road trailer and later that year it was able to purchase a small safety boat. The operations were located with the Whangarei Cruising Club.
These assets enabled people with disabilities to enjoy being on the water unrestricted by their disability. While a laudable achievement, it only catered for a relatively small number of people who relied on conditions of tide and weather. Sailing could only be done 2 hours either side of high tide and that only occurred about fortnightly.
People in wheel chairs or power chairs had to be transferred to a boat by physically lifting them into the boat while it was on a beach trolley. Then they were launched down a ramp and towed into deeper water so that the weighted centre board could be lowered and locked in place before any sailing.
We initially struggled to build participation but knew that greater numbers could only be catered for if more suitable facilities available. We managed 376 ‘people days’ being able to sail for 4 hours a day for 4 days a month. These numbers could be increased to an estimated 588 except for tide and structural restrictions. What was needed was a jetty and pontoons with safe and risk free access to the water at any state of the tide.
The Cruising club had these facilities but they were old and in need of replacement. Access was restricted to people with mobility and at low tide the ramp was very steep. They had requested a resource consent in 2013 but had not been able to progress any further. A joint project was agreed with, Sailability, the Waka Ama club and Coastguard who all shared use of various cruising facilities. Sailability applied to ASB Trust (now called Foundation North) for funds to supply an access ramp extra wide and long enough to enable wheel chairs and ambulance stretchers to use it.
It was officially opened by Sheryl Mai the mayor of Whangarei on Thursday 21 August. The cutting of the ribbon was followed by displays of activities form Sailability and the other user groups. When asked how it worked out, the Club's Project Manager replied “It worked out perfectly”.
