Celebrating Disability Awareness Day with Dart Harbour

NOTE: All images in this blog are reproduced by kind permission of Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority

Tuesday 14^th July 2026 will be remembered as an incredible day for Dart Sailability with Dart Harbour on Disability Awareness Day.  We joined forces with Dart Harbour to showcase just what can be accomplished and the joy it can bring when a person with disabilities is able to experience the freedom of sailing or just being on the water.

The ARC together with Support 2 towing a Hansa 303 dinghy made the run down from Galmpton to Dart Harbour for a day of teamwork with Dart Harbour personnel and facilities which enabled Charlie and Naomi to sail in a blustery and congested Dart Harbour with safety cover provided by Support 2, helmed by Steve Oakey – very different from the tranquility of Galmpton – and Don to be the star of his own show when he had a row with Dartmouth Gig Club.  It was the first time the Dart Harbour hoist had been used with a gig.

All this was watched by ITV News West Country and attended by BBC Devon radio. After the official proceedings the ARC made pre-booked trips for some local groups including the lovely ladies from Dartmouth Caring, some of whom were crying as it brought back so many great memories of their husbands, who used to work on the river.  And Anna took a blind gentleman out in the Hansa and they also had a great time in the continuing blustery conditions.

The event enabled Dart Harbour to showcase their Easy Access Pontoon and hydraulic pump up/down passenger hoist which was opened last year and is available for use by contacting the Harbour Office.

The event gave Dart Sailability the opportunity to show our capability to take people with disabilities afloat and very much in control of sailing dinghies, and RIBs, and for sightseeing trips on the ARC. It also enabled Don to achieve his ambition of once again rowing a gig.

Dart Harbour are very supportive of people with disabilities and have committed to support Dart Sailability with annual funding over the next 3 years, allocated from their cruise ship “Environmental and Community Fee”, which is charged to all cruise ship passengers visiting the Dart, and which ensures that the whole community feels the benefit of the ships being in port. This funding is greatly appreciated, especially as it is to support general operations which is a notoriously difficult area to obtain funds.

ITV News West Country have done us proud with a slot on the 6 o’clock news on the day and also have a video available online which is well worth a view. Charlie is a natural star performer and ambassador!

https://www.itv.com/watch/news/inside-the-charity-that-helps-people-with-disabilities-experience-sailing/5c0gb9t

When viewing the video, please note that the references to hoist and modified pontoons refers to the Dart Harbour setup that we used on the day. There has been no change to our own humble facilities at Galmpton!

We are hopeful that there will also be a piece on Devon Radio on Monday.

Dart Harbour have done us proud with a very good Press Release:

Celebrating a partnership based on accessibility for all - Dart Harbour

They have also issued press release to Sail-World:

Long-standing organisations on the River Dart join forces on Disability Awareness Day

And Yachts and Yachting:

Long-standing organisations on the River Dart join forces on Disability Awareness Day

Fiona has already had contacts from potential new members as a result of the day which confirms it was a great event. Very many thanks to all who supported the day – both volunteers and sailors as well as the Dart Harbour Authority.  We couldn’t have done it without you.