Disabled Sailing Worlds gets underway

Halifax, NS (August 19, 2014) – The sun greeted sailors on the opening day at the International Federation of Disabled Sailing World Championships, with gusty 10-15 knot winds powering the two races for each of the three events. Provisional results have Heiko Kroeger (GER) in the lead in the 2.4 mR; Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti (ITA) leading in the SKUD-18 and John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas (GBR) in front in the Sonar fleet.

Event host Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron has spent $250,000 CDN provided by corporate sponsors, government partners, and club members to upgrade facilities for the world championships, making the club facilities accessible to all.

One of the projects was a new race committee boat that accommodates people who use wheelchairs. Christened the “J McG”, it was named for James MacGregor Stewart, a Halifax lawyer who achieved great business and professional success with the creation of the law firm Stewart, MacKelvie in spite of disabilities caused by polio. During the opening ceremonies, the Squadron’s newly accessible race committee vessel was christened by the Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislature, Kevin Murphy, the first paraplegic to hold that office.

Event website – Results