At Expo '86, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher donated
a British-made Sunbird sailboat to Rick Hansen in honour of his
“Man in Motion” world tour. In 1988, Rick presented
the boat to Sam Sullivan, who subsequently used it to help found
the Disabled Sailing Association of BC (DSA). Within a few short
years, DSA had a total of 16 specially adapted Sunbird sailboats
in three British Columbia Chapters -- Vancouver, Victoria and
Kelowna.
A breakthrough came in 1993, when Sip
'n’ Puff controls were added to one of the Sunbirds.
This technology opened the world of sailing to “high quads”
-- those with little or no upper body mobility. Through pneumatic
switches they can control the boat. Although the Sunbird remained
functional, the equipment and safety modifications required for
Sip ‘n’ Puff technology affected the performance of
the boat and prompted DSA to search for an alternative.
Today, at the heart of the program, is the Martin
16 sailboat-- a vessel designed and built in Vancouver that
is becoming the standard for disabled sailors everywhere. The
Martin 16 is unsinkable, maneuverable and fast. It can be easily
equipped with the Sip 'n' Puff system, that allow even.
DSA Vancouver currently operates a fleet of
seven Martin 16s. Program support comes from a team of student/instructors
hired for the summer months and a rich contingent of volunteers
who devote hundreds of hours each year assisting sailors, maintaining
equipment and operating DSA’s safety zodiac.
During DSA's first summer season in 1989 at
the Jericho
Sailing Centre in Vancouver, 22 sailing sessions were logged
with the original Sunbird sailboat. Today, the DSA has branches
in Victoria and Kelowna as well as Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Moncton,
Sarnia, Regina, Winnipeg, Kingston, Montreal and Halifax. Branches
have also been established in the United States in Washington
State, Oregon, California and New York. The sailing programs teach
the basics of navigation and provide quality instruction for younger
children under adult supervision. To date, DSA Vancouver has provided
over 10,000 sailing experiences to both children and adults and
has attracted over 400 volunteers.
This year, more than 1,000 sailing experiences
will be enjoyed by people with disabilities at the Jericho Sailing
Centre. Recreational outings will be interspersed with regular
and special racing events on a weekly basis for both adults and
children.
DSA sailing programs provide opportunities at
every level, including quality instruction for children under
adult supervision. As sailors become more confident and skilled,
they often begin to compete in regular racing sessions, leading
to larger regattas and cup races held annually across the country.
Three DSA alumni, Brian MacDonald, Paul Tingley and Jamie Whitman
teamed to win bronze medals at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney
Australia.
About seven years after he became a quadriplegic
in a skiing accident 1979,
Sam Sullivan made the decision to & "reach out".
He wanted to reach out to the community of disabled people to
help them take more responsibility for helping themselves.
He wanted to make legislators, politicians and
key community officials aware of the latent potential possessed
by people with disabilities. He wanted the general community to
know that barriers preventing or limiting full participation in
society on the part of people with disabilities could be overcome
by & "reaching
out " and by taking action.
That was in the mid-1980s. Today, Sam Sullivan
is recognized widely has having achieved his objectives. He has
attained his goals through the
promotion of his ideals and through the activities and programs
offered through six
non-profit societies - all founded by Sam - working to improve
the lives of people with disabilities, not only in Vancouver and
British
Columbia, but across North America and around the world.
