Bay SailAble

Bay SailAble at SMSC

The St. Margaret Sailing Club is proud to offer Bay SailAble, an adaptive sailing program focused on creating inclusive opportunities on the water for individuals with physical, cognitive, or mental challenges.

Bay SailAble is built around access, confidence, community, and the joy of sailing. Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where participants can experience the freedom and excitement of being out on the water, regardless of previous sailing experience or mobility level.

The program is designed for individuals who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in recreational or competitive sailing. Family members, caregivers, and friends also benefit by seeing their loved ones gain confidence, independence, and enjoyment through the sailing experience.

Bay SailAble is powered by an incredible team of volunteers from both SMSC and the surrounding community. Through training, teamwork, and shared experiences on the water, volunteers play an important role in creating a supportive and inclusive sailing environment for everyone involved.

Program Details

Program participants sail aboard a Martin 16 keelboat, a specially designed adaptive sailboat used by SailAble programs across Canada and around the world. The Martin 16 allows children and adults with physical disabilities to safely experience sailing in a stable, comfortable, and accessible environment.

Our Bay SailAble vessel was refurbished and prepared for the program at East River Shipyard Ltd. The program currently supports participants who are able to independently transfer from their wheelchair or mobility device into the boat.

Bay SailAble continues to grow each season as accessibility improvements and adaptive technologies are added. Our goal is to create a fully inclusive sailing experience that can support a wide range of mobility and accessibility needs while helping more people enjoy the sport of sailing.

Whether participants are looking to try sailing for the first time, build confidence on the water, or simply enjoy time outdoors in a supportive setting, Bay SailAble is designed to make sailing accessible and enjoyable for all.

Price is $15 per sailing session

Bay SailAble Volunteer Opportunities

The Bay SailAble program is a volunteer-based program offered free of charge to those who would like to sail. If you’d like to volunteer your time to support the program, you will be asked to fill one of our scheduled Tuesday or Thursday sailing spots a few times a month.

Volunteer roles can be found here.

Bay SailAble Funding Partners

We are grateful for the funding support from many partners to make this program possible, including: