Record turnout for the Watersports Inclusion Games with Irish Sailing
by Shona Gibson 27 Jun 18:48 BST
24-25 June 2023
Watersports Inclusion Games with Irish Sailing © David Branigan / Oceansport
More than 1100 trips were made on the water this weekend in Wexford Harbour by people of varying abilities and disabilities.
The fifth year of the games provided participants with the opportunity to try Sailing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Rowing, Paddleboarding, Powerboating, Motorboating, Dragonboating, Waterskiing, Snorkelling as well as Tennis.
The two-day event was hosted by Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis club located on the Slaney River estuary.
The Watersports Inclusion Games is a free multi-watersport that caters for those with varying physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities and from minority backgrounds.
The award-winning event showcases the latest adaptations and innovations for optimised watersports delivery and promotes the benefits to health and wellbeing of accessible inclusive participation on the water.?
Almost 400 people of all ages participated at three different venues. Snorkelling and Tennis entered the calendar for the first time this year including the opportunity to play alongside the Irish Visually impaired Tennis Team. Dragonboating also made its much-anticipated debut.
Return participant Zoe Mulvey, nominated at this year's Irish Sailing Awards for Sailor of the year was there leading the way by taking out other participants on a wheelchair accessible powerboat.
The event was organised by Irish Sailing along with Canoeing Ireland, Rowing Ireland, Irish Wakeboarding and Waterski Federation, Diving Ireland, Sports Active Wexford, Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club, Spinal Injuries Ireland and Shielbaggan OEC. Supporters included Sailability Ireland, Sport Inclusion Ireland, Slaney Purple Paddlers, Kinsale OEC, Ramor Watersports Club, Waterabilities, Wet Mongrel Adventure, the Lord's Taveners and many others.
Next year's games will be hosted at Ramor Watersports Club in Virginia Co. Cavan with dates and further details to follow.