Raymarine supplies new hand held radios for Tideway Sailability

Stand GO88, Southampton International Boat Show – Friday 11^th September, 12.30pm

Friday 11 September 2009 - An integrated sailing club that is committed to making sailing more accessible to everyone, and helps disabled and able-bodied people, their families, friends and carers, to take part in the sport, suffered a serious setback when its South-East London clubhouse was ransacked and valuable hand held radios were stolen.

Now the club is back on track with its sailing programme, thanks to the donation of three Ray101E hand held VHF radios from Raymarine.  The presentation was made by Geoff Holt, the first quadriplegic to sail single handed around Great Britain, to Tideway Sailability’s Commodore Clare Gray and member Melvin Kinnear, a keen sailor who is currently competing in the National Championships for Access dinghies.

Tideway Sailability, based in the Greenland Dock, Surrey Quays, is a registered charity, with over 150 members.  Through its members, volunteers and donors, it enables sailors from as young as eight years to enjoy sailing and boating.  In 2008 the club had record total daily attendances of around 2,500 sailors of which around 1,000 were disabled, taking part in events in the club’s fleet of 16 boats.

Tideway Sailability is also training sailors to take part in the 2Sail 2012 initiative.  This involves seven Visually Impaired new sailors taking part in a five year programme to the 2012 Paralympics, participating in events including the World Blind Championships and training at the Olympic sailing venue in Weymouth.  One of these sailors, Robert Johnson, won a gold medal at the 2009 National Blind Sailing Championships.

The loss of the radios was particularly devastating, as they were a key part of the vital safety cover required to ensure safe sailing.  The new Raymarine 101E VHF radios will also be used to help the Visually Impaired 2Sail 2012 sailors take part in race events on the river. 

The club, which has been awarded the RYA Centre of Excellence status for the last two years, has not only benefited from Raymarine’s generosity, but was also awarded funding from the Sport England Investment Fund in 2008.

Clare Gray, Commodore of Tideway Sailability, said “This very generous gift will greatly enhance our 2Sail 2012 programme and will also significantly improve our safety boat provision both on the river and our home dock.  Thank you on behalf of all of Tideway’s members.”

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September 2009 (RM633)