Able Sail provides a recreational and competitive sailing opportunity to physically and cognitive challenged people of all ages. The program welcomes sailors from Tuesday to Friday through the summer months. With steady growth, Burlington Able Sail currently hosts over 70 patrons. This international program uses the Martin 16, a specially designed “untippable” keel boat designed in Canada. Dockside volunteers utilize a hoist to lift and lower the sailor from his or her wheelchair into the cockpit, where all steering and sail control lines are rigged for easy operation. For quadriplegic sailors, this boat can be rigged with servo power to these control lines, operated by a “mouth organ” using sip and puff commands for full sailing control. The Rotary Club of Burlington has helped to purchase one of the three sail boats in use, as well as the Zodiac safety boat, and provides dock and water volunteers.
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