About Disability Sailing

Sailing is open to male and female, physically disabled and visually impaired athletes. It has a scoring system that assigns points between 1 and 7 based on level of ability which allows athletes from different disability groups to compete together. Athletes with a points score of 1 having the lowest functional ability rising to 7 for the highest. Not more than 14 crew points are allowed in a boat at any one time.

There are three disciplines in Paralympic sailing, a single person Keelboat (2.4mR), a two person Keelboat (SKUD18) and a three person Keelboat (Sonar). Weather permitting, races consist of up to 11 separate runs. Final placings are determined by the accumulation of points scored in each race and the team scoring the lowest points total are the winners.

Sailing is practiced in 50 countries. It made its debut as a demonstration event in the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA in 1996.

The point of contact for those wishing to participate in the sports is as follows:

Royal Yachting Association - Sailability
RYA House, Ensign Way,
Hamble, Southampton
Hampshire
SO31 4YA
www.rya.org.uk

To contact The Royal Yachting Association click on the logo