Newbie from Melbourne Australia

Coolmobility · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Hi there from 'down under'.

I'm a member or Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and have a Holland 25 (IOR Quarter Tonner) that my wife and I have been renovating to be somewhat wheelchair accessible for me as I'm a quadrriplegic.

I've competed in State, Australian and Worlds competition in single person Liberty yachts, with some success and now am involved with the IFDS Technical Committee. IFDS control disabled sailing comps under ISAF.

Interested in networking with people involved in disabled keelboat sailing.

chall03 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Welcome to Sailnet Colin!

I am up in Sydney and we have a Supersonic 27.

Coolmobility · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Hi, I'm sure there are lots of Aussies on here too. I'm wanting to get back into Club racing and a bit of gentle Bay cruising with my wife, nothing serious just fun.

tdw · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolmobility

Hi, I'm sure there are lots of Aussies on here too. I'm wanting to get back into Club racing and a bit of gentle Bay cruising with my wife, nothing serious just fun.

Welcome to the site. We're in Sydney. Sail a 34' steel sloop, cruisers.

I'll be very interested to follow your blog. Mate of ours is paraplegic, has a great love of water but unsurprisingly, mobility is a problem in getting her on or off a small sailboat that lives on a mooring. Of course the average sailboat cockpit is hardly well set up for a wheelchair.

Yes it is feasible to lift someone onto a boat with halyard and sling but the chair is not going to fit and then the issue of staying in place when sitting to windward comes in. The mods you are doing to Mystique are obviously way beyond anthing we'd do to our old girl when our friend might only come sailing once or twice a year. She's an author and public speaker, leads a very busy life indeed so not available to go for a sail all that often.

I'm actually thinking that your V-Lock thingy could be made to accomodate what would be in effect a seat belt for a removeable seat and back support. . Meaning a solid frame with seat and back that sits on a cockpit seat but locks into place to prevent sliding. Interesting thought.

Nice bit of kit btw.

Rgds

Andrew.

(see my pm re sig file)

Hartley18 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Welcome to Sailnet, Colin! You might be surprised how many Aussies there are here - you are certainly not alone.

I don't post here much any more (I spend most of my time on Anything-Sailing) but I'm also a relatively new member of Royal Vic and do the Classics and Twilights on a regular basis. It's such a big Club, I've probably seen you there at some stage but never had the chance to say hello - I'll look out for you from now on!

.

Coolmobility · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Big network, small world. I'm one of the wheelchair users at RYCV and I'm the one with the snazzy carbon fibre three spoke black wheels, Michael (the other main wheelie) has traditionally spoked wheels.
Cheers

Hartley18 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolmobility

Big network, small world. I'm one of the wheelchair users at RYCV and I'm the one with the snazzy carbon fibre three spoke black wheels, Michael has traditionally spoked wheels.
Cheers

Cool.. that should make you easy to spot!! I'll keep an eye out for you.

Enjoy your stay on Sailnet.. but watch out for the Dog - he bites.

smackdaddy · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Hey coolmo - welcome to SN dude.

Coolmobility · #9 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Hi Smackdaddy

I read your BFS stuff yesterday. Great stories, true and tall. I enjoyed taking my old 16' single seat Liberty dinghy out in big blows as I loved to really get the feel of the wind and water. Didn't like the sandblasting efect of the spray though but always came back wet and with a smile on my face!

smackdaddy · #10 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolmobility

Hi Smackdaddy

I read your BFS stuff yesterday. Great stories, true and tall. I enjoyed taking my old 16' single seat Liberty dinghy out in big blows as I loved to really get the feel of the wind and water. Didn't like the sandblasting efect of the spray though but always came back wet and with a smile on my face!

Sweet. Since you're into racing, join in the Global Regatta with us. It's underground yacht racing at it's finest.

HERE'S THE INFO

AUS needs a course man! Send me the coords for one in Victoria and let's race!