Safety on the Water

1. Always keep a good lookout
2. Sail in the designated sailing area only
3. Keep at least 70 metres (1 ferry length) off the ferry wharf
4. Do not cross ahead of approaching or departing ferries.
5. Keep at least 50 metres from the side or stern of a ferry.
6. When on a collision course with a ferry (or other vessel), always let your intentions clearly be known to the other vessel and in good time.
7. A red flag flown from a rescue boat means, “proceed directly back to the pontoon”.

We always have an experienced sailor in each boat with our guest (participant) sailors, and everyone wears an approved buoyancy vest.

We recommend that our sailors wear a hat that won’t blow away, sunglasses to protect against reflected glare, and bring a bottle of water, too.

We also have our safety boat, “Charlie’s Chariot”, out on the water whenever our little sailing boats are out there.

The Access dinghies that we sail virtually cannot sink because of built-in buoyancy, or tip over because of their removable 35kg centre-boards. Because these sailing boats are specifically built for sailors with disabilities, the controls are located immediately in front of the sailor and are operated from a seated position.

We operate from a purpose-built floating pontoon with ramp-way to the Manly Yacht Club jetty. Sailors, whether volunteers or participants, who are physically disabled in some way, or who find it difficult to clamber into the sailing dinghies, are positioned in a special sling and winched into or out of the boat.