SIMPSON BAY--It was a double celebration on Saturday for Sint Maarten Yacht Club (SMYC) with the launch of its Sailability Programme boat adapted for disabled sailors and the 30th anniversary of the yacht club’s sailing school.
A large gathering of yacht club members, supporters, sponsors and partners attended the afternoon event, a culmination to a day of sailing festivities and races. Also there were Government Sports Department Head Janelle Richardson and Policy Officer Jisk Goslinga. The sailability project allows the yacht club to facilitate sailing classes to people with a disability. This can either be a physical or mental disability, or a combination of the two. The project was conceived a year ago in collaboration with the White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) and with a grant from the Resources for Community Resilience (R4CR) programme. Thanks to the contact with R4CR’s Steve Duzanson, SMYC was able to buy the boat, an RS Venture, especially designed for the purpose, following the 2022 Para-Olympic Worlds held in Dubai. The boat named “Nemo” arrived two months ago. It has two seats and a central console in front of the sailor which permits all functions to be performed from a sitting position. The seats can be removed for able sailing too. Classes are being taught on the boat two times a week.
The R4CR programme includes a grant scheme as funding mechanism for community and social rehabilitation initiatives on Sint Maarten and also focuses on improving the capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs) in reconstruction and resilience activities post hurricane Irma. It is financed by the Government of the Netherlands via the Sint Maarten Trust Fund. The Trust Fund is administered by the World Bank and monitored by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB). The R4CR program is being implemented by VNGI. SMYC Manager Saskia Revelman reminded that the sailing school began from humble beginnings in 1993 at Port de Plaisance with the purchase of a few Optimist boats and involvement from parents. SMYC Commodore Frits Bus expanded on the history of the youth sailing programme and the school which now in 2023 has grown by leaps and bounds. As Saskia concurred: “Today we have three full time sailing instructors teaching an impressive 150 students each week, 50 of whom are enjoying free classes. It’s an initiative very close to our hearts to make sure sailing is accessible to all. We are not only teaching sailing but also swimming. Through our efforts we are creating career possibilities, inspiring the next generation to enter the marine industry. “Through this sailability programme we try to provide individuals with a sense of belonging and purpose.
We want to engage them in an activity that brings joy, learning and a new skill set. This programme is about embracing what we all love, the open sea, and maybe reclaiming a piece of what life may have taken from them, and being able to do it instead of not being able to do it.” She added she would like to see the boat sailing five days a week in the future and to include the elderly and those with mental health issues. Four students on the sailability programme from the Sister Basilia Centre, part of the White and Yellow Cross Foundation, christened the boat with a spray of champagne. “Beyoncé Amerikaan is in a wheelchair because she has cerebal palsy. Every week she looks forward to going out on the boat and she actively participates, follows instructions, and best of all when she’s on board, she has a beautiful smile,” said Sister Basilia Manager, Mimi Hodge.
The other students present were Giovanni Gumbs, Esequiel Richardson, and D’Andre Laurence. Also testifying to what a difference the youth sailing programmes make to the lives of children, was Director of the All Children for Education Foundation (ACE) school, Claire Elshot. “Last year six of our students were afforded the opportunity to take part in the youth sailing programme and this year we will be 12 students,” said Elshot. “It really boosts the children’s self-esteem and confidence, and helps to overcome their fear of the water. It’s very important to know how to swim. I thank the SMYC for including our school. They even came to the school with equipment to show us what it was all about.”
