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Sailability Gold Coast is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation based in Gold Coast, Australia. This organisation provides a safe and friendly environment for people of all ages with disabilities to participate in the sport of sailing or other on-water activities. They welcome individuals of all ages, whether they are experienced sailors or not, to join as volunteers and may even have the opportunity to become a sailor themselves.
Operating on the Gold Coast Broadwater every Tuesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm, Sailability Gold Coast offers regular sailing sessions for participants. However, they are also open to accommodating other arrangements on different days with sufficient notice. The location is at 1 Marina Crescent, Hollywell, QLD 4216.
Sailability Gold Coast was established after several years of commitment and determination by a small group of individuals and achieved formal incorporation in March 2000, making it the first Sailability organisation in Queensland. Currently, an average of 80 people with various disabilities participate in sailing or motor activities on the water each week, accompanied by a dedicated team of 60+ volunteers.
The origins of Sailability as we know it today can be traced back to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s, where Ian Harrison MBE and his colleagues founded a competitive sailing organisation for people with disabilities. Their aim was to ensure that no person with a disability would be denied the opportunity to sail. Sailability Australia adopted the same logo as the original Sailability organisation in the UK.
Sailability Gold Coast operates in collaboration with the Southport Yacht Club, with the first Sailability club in Queensland being established in March 2000. The Commodore of the Southport Yacht Club, Wyn Treasure, played a pivotal role in establishing Sailability on the Gold Coast. He also became the first president of Sailability Queensland, which serves as the coordinating body for Sailability clubs in the state. Since then, several other Sailability clubs have been incorporated, including Sailability Sunshine Coast and Sailability Bayside.
Currently, there are 15 separately incorporated clubs affiliated with Sailability Queensland.
For more information about Sailability Gold Coast, interested individuals can follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Sponsorships, grants, donations, and governance issues can be addressed to the President of Sailability Gold Coast, Mike McGehan, via email at president@sailabilitygc. Org. au.