A Regatta of Possibility

It’s the regatta of possibility where athletes leave their wheelchairs on the dock and compete as equals on the water. The 2018 Clearwater Mobility Cup, Canada’s national regatta for sailors with disabilities, comes to Halifax on August 28-31.

“This is a proud year for all of us at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron,” says regatta chair, Paralympic Gold Medalist and Honourary Squadron Member Paul Tingley. “Hosting our third regatta in five years for parasport athletes.”

The RNSYS first hosted the Mobility Cup for Sail Able in 2013, and in 2014, the International Federation for Disabled Sailors (IFDS) World Championships.

The RNSYS has significantly enhanced its infrastructure as host club over the past several years, making it more accessible than ever, and is focused on fostering an inclusive environment that includes making sailing available to anyone no matter the limitation.

The Mobility Cup is the ‘regatta of possibility’,” says RNSYS Commodore David Stanfield. “It is a symbolic and inspiring event where sailors of varying abilities defy barriers in friendly competition.”

Racing in Martin 16s, a vessel made by Don Martin specifically for persons with disabilities, and offers a broad range of resources for parasport sailors. For athletes that don’t have use of their hands, the boat has assistive technology which allows the skipper to steer by inhaling or exhaling into a straw.

Thirty-two teams from across North America will compete in two fleets, silver for beginners, and gold for experienced racers going after the big Mobility Cup.