HRH the Princess Royal receives new Access Liberty dinghy
by Connie Power, RYA Sailability 15 Jun 2005 10:45 BST
HRH The Princess Royal on the pontoon with Ann Lewis and Steve Sawford © Connie Power
HRH the Princess Royal receives new Access Liberty dinghy on behalf of RYA Sailability
Opportunities for people with disabilities to sail alongside other sailing enthusiasts at the new £7.85m Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy were given a major boost after the presentation of a brand new Access Liberty to RYA Sailability patron HRH Princess Anne by boat builder Steve Sawford.
The presentation of the dinghy was made on the pontoons at Weymouth as part of the opening celebrations on Thursday June 9th after the Festival of Sail, featuring a host of sailing legends racing against disabled sailors, had been concluded.
Steve, who has been building the Access range of dinghies for the past three years at his base in Northamptonshire and is the UK’s sole manufacturer, made the presentation on behalf of Access Dinghy Sailing Systems in Australia (ADSSA), where designer Chris Mitchell first conceived and designed the Access range for disabled sailors.
“These boats are incredibly safe and simple to sail and very quickly give people confidence in handling them on a race track,” he said.
“We have built over 100 of them and our order book suggests that the fleet is popular and growing fast,” he said.
On the pontoon, having just won the Liberty event was Ann Lewis, the 2004 Access 2.3 National Champion from Watford who is wheelchair dependent after suffering meningitis eight years ago.
“I have already placed an order for one because they are fast, very stable and great fun to sail,” she said.
“But I have asked Steve to make me one with glittery blue decks and I haven’t decided what colour the sails will be yet.”
The 3.6 metre dinghy, with joystick steering, high coamings and wide side decks is a totally accessible performance craft which anyone can sail, regardless of ability. It even has a ventilator stowage box, opening up the sailing opportunity to a new class of disabled sailor.
The opening of the Academy will allow disabled sailors to race on the same courses in Weymouth Harbour as every other sailor, offering them the chance to enjoy the sport at one of the best venues in the world due to its unique combination of excellent breezes and safe waters.
Said Clive Clifford CEO RYA Sailability: “This boat has been loaned to Weymouth to encourage more local people with disabilities to take up sailing and as demand increases, so we hope the fleet will broaden. We are indebted to Chris Mitchell in Australia for making this gift to us and hope that it will transform many people’s lives.”