Thirty years into its partnership with Dobroyd Aquatic Club, Sailability Dobroyd is being recognised by Australian Sailing's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group as a benchmark for inclusive sailing in New South Wales.
Located on Iron Cove, less than eight kilometres from Sydney's CBD, the programme runs on sheltered water shared with three rowing clubs. Sailing has been integrated with DAC for 11 years, to the point where, as the club puts it, "guide dogs, wheelchairs, etc are par for the course."
The fleet runs to nine Hansa boats, eight 303s and one 2.3. Two are fitted with electric servo assistance, allowing sailors with very limited mobility to steer and trim using small joysticks.
Two core programmes underpin the model. Sunday Have a Go Sailing runs every second Sunday year-round, with sailors free to simply go for a ride or build skills at their own pace. Saturday Better Sailing and Racing runs through summer and monthly in winter, with Sailability Dobroyd now competing in DAC's Open A fleet, often putting the largest numbers on the start line.
The 2026 national titles showed what the programme has produced. A Sailability Dobroyd sailor took the national title in the 303 Single class, with a club-mate finishing third. The 303 Doubles pairing came fourth and fifth. Sailability Illawarra also had a strong regatta, finishing second, fourth, and sixth in the Hansa 2.3s. A good year for NSW.
The club points to five elements behind its results: the factory-level adaptability of the Hansa 303 and 2.3, a clear pathway from casual sailing into competitive racing, a welcoming club environment, flexible instructors, and high-quality volunteers. The breadth of activities, the club notes, attracts more skilled and younger volunteers.
Ad-hoc programmes have included sailing and powerboat courses for indigenous high school students working toward maritime and ranger vocational qualifications through TAFE, alongside come-and-try days for vision and hearing impaired groups.
Wellington, New Zealand is cited alongside the RYA in the UK and programmes across Europe as a reference point for where Sailability Dobroyd is aiming. The case study was commissioned by Australian Sailing's DEI Advisory Group, formed in 2023, which developed its strategy over eight months in consultation with clubs, class associations, and external experts.
