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| Sailing allows people with disabilities to enjoy complete independence and freedom, whether as a recreational activity or a competitive high performance endeavor. Innovative technological advances have allowed those with significant disabilities to sail solo. People with no upper body mobility can enjoy complete control over a boat, thanks to assistive technology. It is now one of the fastest-growing sports for people with disabilities. |
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Vancouver is the birthplace of disabled sailing in Canada. It can be traced back to 1989, when entrepreneur and quadriplegic Sam Sullivan, who is now Vancouver's mayor, formed the Disabled Sailing Association of B.C. (DSA), using an adapted sailboat given by "Man in Motion" Rick Hansen. The boat, a British-made Sunbird, had originally been presented to Rick during Expo '86 by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Sam, disabled in a 1979 skiing accident, was - and remains - committed to finding ways that individuals with disabilities gain independence. This includes removing barriers to employment and community facilities, with a particular emphasis on empowering people through outdoor leisure activities. Sailing was clearly an ideal vehicle.
DSA grew rapidly and in 1991 Sam launched the idea of a sailing regatta to allow people with disabilities to participate in a world-class event while raising public awareness of the capacities of competitors. The Mobility Cup was held in Vancouver until 1994, with competitors coming from all over the country. Each year, competitors went home full of enthusiasm, leading to the rapid expansion of disabled sailing associations. There are now more than 30 adaptive sailing programs across Canada, with the Mobility Cup recognized as Canada's international showcase for sailors with disabilities.Innovative Canadian technology has made Canada the world leader in sailing for people with disabilities. This includes:
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| Sip 'n' Puff controls: |
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Added to one of the Sunbirds in 1993, this technology revolutionized sailing for people with disabilities as it opened the sport to "high quads." People with no upper body mobility can control the boat through pneumatic switches, operated via a mouthpiece. A slight vacuum ("sip") or moderate pressure ("puff") allows control of all functions, from setting the sails to steering. |
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| Martin 16 sailboat: |
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Specifically designed for people with mobility impairments after DSA discovered that Sip 'n' Puff systems affected the performance of their existing Sunbirds. Sam Sullivan sent out a design brief in 1995 to create a boat that would allow everyone to sail together, without compromises or handicaps. The resulting Martin 16, designed by Vancouver's own Don Martin, is both fast and stable, meeting the needs of experienced and first-time sailors, irrespective of physical disabilities. It looks like a miniature America's Cup yacht, but has a joystick-operated rudder and self-tending sails, and cannot flip over or sink. |
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The Mobility Cup has been held in the following venues:
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2005 |
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Calgary, Alberta |
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2004 |
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Pelican Bay, Manitoba |
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2003 |
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Ottawa, Ontario |
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2002 |
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Kingston, Ontario |
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2001 |
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Victoria, British Columbia |
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2000 |
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Montreal, Quebec |
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1999 |
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Toronto, Ontario |
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1998 |
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Vancouver, British Columbia |
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1997 |
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Calgary, Alberta |
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1996 |
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Vancouver, British Columbia |
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1995 |
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Victoria, British Columbia |
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1991 – 1994 |
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Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| The Mobility Cup is an event that competitors never forget. The 2006 event is set to be the largest and most successful in the history of the race, and we believe that sailing for people with disabilities will receive a further boost. |
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