The Sailboat show gives RYA Sailability a chance to keep the able bodied sailing population informed of the developments in dinghy design for sailors with reduced mobility.

The Access dinghy made in the UK by Steve Sawford Marine but designed in Australia is leading the way in dinghy design. The recent launch of the Access 303 in the UK means that the chance to sail and race has been opened up to many more people with mobility difficulties.

The dinghy can be fitted with a fully motorised sailing system controlled by the sailor’s chin. A little joypad type control unit is strapped to the chest of the sailor with left/ right movements controlling direction and forwards/backwards adjusting sail trim.

A rear compartment is designed to accommodate respirator equipment and is situated just behind the sailor allowing tubing to be kept to a minimum and avoid any danger of the rigging and respirator becoming entangled. This is the first sailing dinghy that has been designed to cope with such needs and enables sailors with both severe mobility and breathing difficulties to take to the water in safety.

To combat the difficulties associated with transferring from a wheel chair to a sailing dinghy the same company that has launched the Access range has developed a full range of pontoons that can be adapted for many locations. All encompass a hoist but the more advanced include a central dinghy dock which allows sailors to enter from either side of the boat whilst the dinghy is held in place by the pontoon itself.