Who it helps: Children and adults of all abilities interested in sailing.
Where to give: www.sailabilitygreatertampabay.org or mail checks to Sailability GTB, P.O. Box 5201, Clearwater, 33758. For information, e-mail sailabilitygtb@aol.com or call 727-789-9058.
One sailor is paralyzed from the neck down. He navigates the boat with his chin. Another doesn't have use of his legs, but he manages using just his upper body.
Sailability, a Clearwater-based nonprofit, offers these people and many others the chance to do what many would never think possible. Using adaptive equipment and electronics, everyone can get out on the open water and become a captain.
The idea is to "leave your disabilities on the dock," said founder Alder Allensworth-Ritter.
Five years ago, she and a group of likeminded individuals came together under the premise that they could teach people, regardless of ability, to sail. In summer 2000, they began preparations. The local group joined up with Sailability World Inc., which operates in countries throughout the world, including Australia, Greece, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.
They put their first sailors on the water in June 2001, and since then they've certified about 65 people to captain their own boats during their weekend classes held about three times a year.
The organization has produced four Special Olympic athletes, hosted two international regattas and plans to hold a Special Olympic international race in May 2006.
"We teach people that there are things that they can do on their own," said Allensworth-Ritter. While most similar organization focus their efforts on the competitive Paralympic athlete, Allensworth-Ritter said Sailability is "interested in the regular person in the community."
To her, the organization is about having fun. "Life has to be worth living," she says. "Having fun is something that makes it worth it."
The organization hosts a community sail once a month. A donation of $10 per half-hour of sailing is collected for Sailability programs and maintenance. People of all ages and abilities are invited to participate. The next sail date will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat., Dec. 17. Boats leave from the Clearwater Community Sailing Center (1001 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater).
Sailability currently has nine sailboats, a 21-foot fishing boat and small safety powerboat, but they are in need of support. The group hopes to buy a new 303 Access Dinghy, a specially designed sailboat that won't capsize, as well as recruit sponsors to provide scholarships for those who can't afford to sail.
This article appears in Nov 16-23, 2005.