Quebec adapted sailing competition makes a comeback

“All my things that I thought were gone forever, which was to participate in a sport, to be active to be able to compete, was all together waiting for me with that sport,” said Founder of the Quebec Association of Adapted Sailing René Dallaire.

The Quebec Cup of Adapted Sailing is back after a hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The two-day competition at the Pointe-Claire Yacht Club uniting adaptive sailing programs from across North America.

Competitors – thrilled about their return to the sport.

“We all miss sailing and the competition. 2019. Just before Covid the lake, the river was flooded and they couldn’t host the regatta. So that 2019 was out and then 20 and 21 were out. So, um, my wife and I like to come here. It’s like the highlight of our summer. So for three years we missed it. So we’re super happy to be back,” said competitive sailor Eric Rose.

“Coupe du Quebec has been running for many years. And so it’s the first time we all it since the pandemic. So we’re really happy, really glad to get to see all the sailors again for a competition. So this friendly regatta as been you know, has been welcoming people from all around Canada and the united states so we’re really glad to have this event again,” said executive director of the Quebec Association of Adapted Sailing Geneviève Prévost.

The sport – a popular one among people with disabilities or mobility issues – the boat used is adapted to the sailor’s needs so all physical advantages or challenges are removed from the equation

“25 years of offering sailing opportunities for sailing for sailors for people with disabilities to go back. And we have more than 2000 hours of sail done by people with disabilities every season,” said Dallaire.

“The martin six team boat was designed from the keel up to be an adaptive sailing boat. Um, the, uh, you steer with a joystick that’s sitting right in front of you and you push it left to go left for it to go right. So it’s very easy to, it’s to steer. You don’t have to jump out of your seat and move around like in a typical sailboat,” explained Rose.

“And then the lines that you have to control the sails in and out are cleated right in front of you. And so you don’t have to move around. Everything is right there and you’re sitting in a midship facing forward, which is different than a typical racing sailboats. So it’s very easy to sail. And again, it becomes all strategy and there’s the physical skill is removed. If a sailor has an upper body mobility issues, they have a motorized winch, they can bring the sail in and out and they can usually with a sip and puff straw.”

“That’s really the fact that I could control the boat myself, even, even if I don’t have my arms and legs I was able to fully sail on myself at the same level of sailing as anybody else. I could compete. I’ve been personally. It’s a sports injury I had many years ago. 52 years now, and ever since for 25 years I was not able to sail or to practice any kind of sport,” said Dallaire.

One sailing competitor comparing the sport to the game of chess

“It’s not like a race car where like one car’s face another, every boat’s identical. So it’s all about the strategy of how you can get around the course in the shortest amount of time. So there’s a lot of there’s a lot of nuance in the sailing, racing strategy books,” said Rose.