29 sailors from as far away as Hawaii and California have gathered in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, to compete in the Mobility Cup, a regatta aimed at making sailing inclusive and accessible to all.

The event is organized by the Able Sail Network of Canada, a group dedicated to ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical ability, can enjoy sailing.

Sailor Rene Dallaire, who came from Montreal to participate in the Mobility Cup (Nathan Coleman).

Among the competitors is Rene Dallaire, who traveled from Montreal to take part. Dallaire uses suction and blowing technology to steer his boat during the races.

“When I want to control my sails, I pull on them and they come in. I blow on them and the sails come out. They’re basically straws. I do the same thing with the rudder,” Dallaire told The Weather Network.

Gerry Burns traveled from Vancouver to take part in his tenth Mobility Cup.

“My left arm is severely paralyzed, so I only use my right arm. I steer the boat with a joystick called an autohelm, similar to the one on my chair, which hydraulically moves the rudder left and right,” Burns said.

Boats on the water at the Mobility Cup in Lunenburg, NS (Nathan Coleman).

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The boats used in the regatta are Martin 16s, which are specially adapted for barrier-free sailing.

“They have a very heavy lead keel so they can’t tip over – that’s the idea,” explained Anneka Siegel, a sailor from Halifax. “For people who are strapped into the boat and can’t swim very well, that’s really important.”

The Lunenburg Yacht Club spent a year preparing to host the regatta and invested $250,000 to modernize its facilities and make them more accessible.

“For the first time in over 75 years, our clubhouse is fully accessible. Previously, you had to climb stairs or a very steep ramp to get into the building. Now everything meets Nova Scotia’s upcoming 2030 accessibility standards,” said Erin McCarty, Commodore of the Lunenburg Yacht Club.

One of the most important improvements was the addition of a new 30-foot-long, 48-inch-wide ramp, allowing sailors easy access to the water.

“Every year, it’s a lot of the same faces that you’ve seen at previous events, and they become such great friends. They come from all over North America – San Diego, Hawaii – and when you see them again, it’s so great,” Burns said, reflecting on the camaraderie among the participants.

The sailors will be divided into two fleets: the Gold Fleet for experienced racers and the Silver Fleet for those new to the sport.

Thumbnail by Nathan Coleman.