Frensham Pond Sailability 2004 Highlights

Very successful, enjoyable and busy third year - following Frensham Pond Sailability's launch in September 2001
Sailing held every Thursday and Saturday from 1 April to end October, plus 3 Wednesday visits by Woodlarks Summer Camp.
85 active and regular sailing members, approximately 70% attending independently, 30% through organisations. A further 207 disabled youngsters and adults sailed on single visits. Approximately 1100 'sailor sessions' on the water during the year.
Organisations sailing with FPS during 2004 included William Cobbett Junior School Special Unit, Abbey Special School, Treloar College, Hemihelp, Hydon Hill and Le Court Cheshire Homes, Whitmore Vale Housing Association, Disability Challengers, Link Leisure, Farnborough MS, Southampton Sports Association for the Disabled, Sportability, RIchmond Minds and Woodlarks Summer Camp (up to 50 sailors plus helpers per visit for sailing and on-site BBQ).
3 further boats added to the Sailability fleet (now totalling 16 boats) in 2004:
- Single-handed Access 2.3 dinghy, funded by Camberley Rotoract
- Two-handed Access 303 dinghy, funded by Mrs June Long and friends
- Wayfarer dinghy, funded by National Lottery 'Awards for All' and Churt Welfare Trust grant
'Sporting Challenge 2004' continued throughout the year. Aimed at specifically encouraging younger people with disabilities to sail, particularly those wishing to take up sailing as a competitive sport. Our 'vision' is to have a FPS member sailing in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics!
FPS continued to offer a wide range of sailing experiences - from 'therapeutic' cruising around Frensham Pond to fully competitive and integrated racing. Sailing highlights included:
- Waverly InterTown Sports in May - hosted disabled sailing event
- Frensham Pond Access Open in May - attended by 28 boats from all over the UK
- Taster sail day in June for 60 youngsters with Hemiplegia
- Frensham Pond 2.4mR Open in September - attended by 9 boats
- FPS sailors raced at Rutland, Wolverstone (Ipswich), Burghfield
- 8 students from Abbey Special school presented with RYA Sailability Achievement Certificates in September
- 5 day RYA Part 2 course (Basic Sailing Skills) held in October - attended by 5 sailors and 7 helpers
Integration into Frensham Pond Sailing Club's sailing activities continued. The 2.4 mini-keelboats, with a mixture of able-bodied and disabled helms, are racing throughout the winter on Saturday afternoons. Two Access dinghies also sailed in the club's annual 10 Hour Race in June - with a rotating team of 8 sailors.
Great BBQ evening held in August, and Fundraising dance held in Crondall Village Hall in November (£1500 raised)
Promotional activitis included FPS Open Day in June and boat display at Guildford 'Sports for All' day in October. Introduction of clothing range embossed with FPS logo well received.
Band of enthusiastic and dedicated helpers continues to grow (now totalling nearly 50) but more still needed! A particularly pleasing development in 2004 was the involvement of a number of the Club's junior and youth sailors.
Programme in place to increase the number of qualified helpers - 6 helpersobtained RYA Dinghy Instructor certificate in April 2004

Previous Newsletters

Highlights 2003
Issue No.5 - Spring 2003
Issue No. 4 - Christmas 2002