Blind Sailing New Zealand and several ‘Sailability’ organisations maintain independence as non-profit organizations around New Zealand to reflect the specific demand for specialist sailing groups for people with all types of disability.
Good race management is good race management regardless of who is on the water. Sailing theory, rules, and tactics are the same for everyone, although physical parameters may be different when working with sailors that have a disability.
Hansa Class Recommended Yardsticks for Mixed Class Racing - for sailors wanting to compare Hansa Classes performance to other classes sailing against them at the same regatta.
Many sailors with disabilities primarily sail boats with design features that make them virtually impossible to capsize, so would consider themselves to be “as safe as houses” and are probably in more danger crossing the road.
While the choice of what style life jacket/PFD is often dependant on the type of sailing and an individual’s preference, more care must be taken with the choice for persons with a disability.
Creating a coaching session that includes sailors of all levels and ability. So that everyone can practise and compete in the session with equal amount of coaching time and input.
There are 17 Regional Sports Trusts across New Zealand. The goals of a RST are to increase regional levels of physical activity and to strengthen regional sport and physical recreation infrastructures (which includes clubs).
There are other options that can work outside what is shown on this poster, this is simply an outline of the pathways that work most regularly and efficiently.
NOTE: There are many other paths that athletes and their clubs may prefer but cannot necessarily be the prime focus of our Olympic Development programme.