Frensham Pond Sailability 2005 Highlights

Very successful, enjoyable and busy fourth year - following Frensham Pond Sailability's launch in September 2001
Sailing held every Thursday and Saturday from 1 April to end October, plus 2 Wednesday visits by Woodlarks Summer Camp. Paralympic class 2.4mR mini keelboat racing continuing through the winter.
95 active and regular sailing members, approximately 70% attending independently, 30% through organisations. A further 172 disabled youngsters and adults sailed on single visits. Approximately 1100 'sailor sessions' on the water during the year. Significant increase in the number of younger sailors particularly pleasing.
Organisations sailing with FPS during 2005 included William Cobbett Junior School Special Unit, Abbey Special School, Stepping Stones School, Treloar College, Hemihelp, Hydon Hill Cheshire Home, Whitmore Vale Housing Association, Sportability, The Meath Centre Godalming, Farnborough MS, Southampton Sports Association for the Disabled and Woodlarks Summer Camp (up to 50 sailors plus helpers per visit for sailing and on-site BBQ).
2 further boats added to the Sailability fleet (now totalling 18 boats) in 2005:
- Single-handed Access 2.3 dinghy, funded by Farnham Lions
- Two-handed Access 303 dinghy, funded by S. C. Johnson Ltd.
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:
- Race training day in Mach led by Cathy Foster - Sydney 2000 Paralympic sailing manager and coach
- Week's big boat sailing in April in the Solent courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Sailing Club
- Frensham Pond Access Open in May - attended by over 20 from all over the UK
- FPS sailors raced at Cotswald Water Park, Rutland, Wolverstone (Ipswich) and Burghfield
- Taster sail day in June for 60 youngsters with Hemiplegia
- Frensham Pond Sailability 2.4mR Open in September
- 11 young sailors presented with RYA Sailability Achievement Certificates
- 5 day RYA Dinghy sailing Part 1 & 2 course held in October - attended by 6 sailors and 5 helpers
Integration into Frensham Pond Sailing Club's mainstream sailing activities continued. 2.4mR mini keelboats racing, with a mixture of able-bodied and disabled helms, now formally part of the Club's racing programme on Saturday afternoons throughout the year. Two Access dinghies and two 2.4mR teams also sailed in the club's annual 10 Hour Race in July.
Major dredging project to provide the additional water depth required by deeper keel FPS boats completed
Promotional activitis included FPS stand at Rowledge & Churt Fayre. Third prize in class for FPS float at Farnham Carnival! Two FPS sailors featured on Meridian TV 'Town & Country' programme in March
Band of enthusiastic and dedicated helpers continues to grow (now totalling nearly 50) but more still needed! The continued involvement in 2005 of a number of the Club's junior and youth sailors was particularly pleasing.
Continued programme for increasing the formal training and qualifications of volunteer helpers

Previous Newsletters

Highlights 2004
Highlights 2003
Issue No.5 - Spring 2003
Issue No. 4 - Christmas 2002