Australian sailing facility receives upgrade

Australia’s National Training Centre for sailing will become more accessible for people with an impairment in the near future. 14 Jan 2013

Australia’s Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch sail at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

ⒸIFDS

By IPC

“The upgrade announced by the Government will make more community sailing programs possible for people with a disability, which will grow our participation base and hopefully foster more talented athletes who can then progress to elite competition.”

Australian sailors with an impairment will be the major beneficiaries of stage two of the upgrade to Yachting Australia’s National Training Centre announced by Minister for Sport Kate Lundy on Sunday (13 January).

Among the key features of the $1.3 million redevelopment, funded by a federal government grant, will be a large rigging deck space and crane area to provide greater access for people with an impairment.

The new upgrade will not only encourage greater integration between Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches, it will also boost community programmes for people with an impairment conducted at the Middle Harbour facility.

Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) President Greg Hartung said the redevelopment will make a very positive impact at both the elite and grass roots levels of Australian sailing.

“Our Paralympic sailors have shown they can succeed against the world’s best, and this upgrade will provide higher quality facilities and infrastructure needed to help our national teams remain competitive in the future,” Hartung told the APC.

“The Australian Government has recognised the value of investing in Yachting Australia’s integrated approach towards Olympic and Paralympic sailing, while also taking into account the need to grow the sport further at a participation level.

“The upgrade announced by the Government will make more community sailing programs possible for people with a disability, which will grow our participation base and hopefully foster more talented athletes who can then progress to elite competition.”

The first phase of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club redevelopment was opened in late 2011 and consisted of a refurbishment and fit-out to provide office accommodation, meeting and performance analysis rooms, a small kitchenette, boat storage and an indoor open rigging area.

At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch won Australia’s lone sailing medal in the two-person keelboat SKUD18 competition.