Fun and games for Round Oak Sailability sailors 

Warwick special school rookies enjoy own Sailability Regatta

There were special awards for pupils Danny Day and Ross Knight as students from Round Oak School, Support Service and Sports College in Warwick competed in their own 2011 Sailability Learning Difficulties Regatta at Bartley Sailing Club in Birmingham last month.

Eight students aged 16-19, who have all learned to sail through the RYA’s OnBoard grassroots sailing scheme, with support from West Midlands Sailability, over the past year gathered at Bartley to test their newfound sailing skills in some fun races and games.

Danny received his special medal for most improved sailor while Ross was recognised for how much he has grown in confidence through his sailing. Both boys were awarded with their medals by Martyn Collis, the RYA’s West Midlands Sailability Organiser.

RYA Sailability is the nationwide programme enabling people with a disability to experience sailing and sail regularly.

The special sessions Round Oak have enjoyed this year give the young people the chance to train and race throughout the year in an environment geared up to take account of each individual’s abilities. Round Oak broke the Sailability mould this year when, for the first time, two groups of youngsters were also introduced to disabled windsurfing at Draycote Water, with many achieving their RYA Stage 1 Learn to Windsurf certificates.

Janice Farren, Round Oak teacher, said: “The students have enjoyed the whole sailing experience since the first day and it has been lovely to watch them grow in confidence as the weeks have gone on. It has encouraged and made them work closely as a team to overcome a variety of new challenges.

“Not once has any of the students refused to participate or forgotten to bring kit. Out on the water has been a time for the students and staff to enjoy and focus on a task and leave all their stresses and worries behind for a morning. It has been a pleasure to watch them sail and see how much they have enjoyed it.”  

For more information about RYA Sailability visit www.rya.org.uk/programmes/ryasailability or contact the Sailability team directly on 0844 556 9550 or at sailability@rya.org.uk