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A smooth sail
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The Sailability movement makes the sailor's journey, rather than the destination, important
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IN A world driven by saleability, the Sailability movement seeks to make a difference. Soon to come to India, it is already in operation in 14 countries where more than 200 `accessible sailing' programmes are being run. These aim to provide sailing experiences to people of all abilities and empower them to manage their own lives.
It begins with a premise that every non-sailor is disabled in the sailing world, regardless of whether s/he is able bodied or suffers from a disability. The universal design of the Access Dinghy makes it capable of accepting sailors of any ability in its embrace for Sailability seeks to help the handicapped, most of whom may be social outcasts in their communities.
Arjuna Awardee and International Juror C.S. Pradipak has tried his hand with boats tailor-made for the disabled. In Australia, he has sailed the Hobie Cat 16, fitted with a trap seat and manoeuvrable merely with a joystick! Having interacted with Allan Jones, an acknowledged expert in the field, Pradipak says the said boat can be manufactured for about a lakh. That price can be pegged down considerably, if reduced labour costs in India are taken into account.
Benefiting fishermen
Jones is ready to donate two boats and two ocean-worthy canoes under Sailability to India. These come with the free coaching for three weeks by Samantha, a volunteer who has trained aborigines in Australia. The only cost involved is in importing the above equipment to a south Indian port from Melbourne.
Such a scheme would be beneficial not only to sailors but to the fishermen communities on the Indian coastline, who can use the skills acquired on these catamarans to make a livelihood by learning sailing in the open seas.
The craft alluded to above are proven to be safe and should build self-esteem in people stricken with disabilities. In established sailing nations, participation averages at just one per cent of the population largely because of the misconception that the sport is very expensive. New Sailability groups are being formed in Malaysia, Taiwan, China and, nearer home, in Pakistan. The concept should reach our shores sooner than later with Pradipak even planning a race for the handicapped during the Hobie Cat 16 Nationals scheduled for May at Visakhapatnam.
Racing can be just one possible end point but the journey could be more important than the destination.
A. JOSEPH ANTONY
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