Sailing back into life

The Docklands Yacht Club is helping people with spinal injuries get their “sea legs” through a unique research program.

The research study, run by the University of Melbourne, focuses on how sailing can be used to aid physical and mental rehabilitation following a spinal injury.

Participants begin by using a sailing simulator, before graduating to sailing on Victoria Harbour with the Docklands Yacht Club.

The project began five years ago when Prof Norman Saunders and Dr Mark Habgood installed a prototype of a sailing simulator they had developed at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.

According to Maree Ellul, who is completing her PhD under the supervision of Prof Saunders and  Dr Habgood, sailing was seen as not only a fun way to deliver some of the physical aspects of rehabilitation but also potentially a life-long physical and social activity.

“Early evidence indicates that involvement in a sailing program results in measurable improvements in physical and psychological wellbeing, moral self-esteem and self efficacy, as well as helping to integrate people with a disability into a social setting,” Ms Ellul said.

Docklands Yacht Club’s David Staley said the club had been aware of the project for the past few years and became formally part of the project around 12 months ago.

Already involved with Sailability, an international organisation that works with people with disabilities, the club has a fleet of “Access dinghies” and facilities to allow disabled sailors to get in and out of the boats.

“The Access dinghies are an Australian-designed boat specifically developed for those with a disability,” Ms Ellul said.

“They have a long centre board to prevent it from capsizing and an elevated boom to clear the heads of sailors without them needing to duck.”

Ms Ellul said participants initially visited Docklands twice as part of the research plan and were then encouraged to continue sailing at Docklands or close to home.

“They are able to sail at Docklands on a casual basis, whenever it suits them or they can become active members and participate in club sailing programs and racing should they desire.”

Mr Staley said sailing provided numerous physical and mental benefits for people with spinal injuries.

“Sailing is particularly good because it enables people, even those with profound disabilities, to sail independently,” he said.