Burlington Able Sail
Burlington Able Sail provides sailing opportunities and instruction for individuals with a physical or cognitive disability to enhance their quality of life and promote the integration of sailors with disabilities with able-bodied sailors.
"If you can breathe, you can sail!"
This program offers an opportunity for people with physical disabilities to go out on the water and enjoy sailing! We're open to any person aged 7 and up with a physical or cognitive disability. We are well equipped to give people who have suffered from stroke or trauma or debilitating diseases such as MS an unforgettable experience. Our team is well-educated and we have adapted boats as well as custom equipment to transfer participants from wheelchairs into sailing boats.\
When
Monday June 16th to Friday August 22nd, 2025
Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Format
One-hour sessions. 1 or 2 sailors per boat, depending on their skill level.
Fee Schedule
The first trial session is free. The rate for each sailor is $230 for the season. Cheque or e-transfer of $230 (the Full Amount) to be submitted upon application by May 1, 2024.
Register for our program using the Client Signup form found in the menu in the top left corner.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Burlington Able Sail is a non-profit charity run by volunteers. We are always looking for people of all skill levels and availability to help out. If interested please complete the Volunteer Signup form found on the page Volunteer Information. We are especially interested in people with a sailing background and/or boating experience.
Employment Opportunities
Burlington Able Sail has paid positions for youth between the ages of 16 and 30 looking for summer employment. If you would enjoy working with people of varying abilities helping them discover the joys of sailing please check out the job links below.
Where
The Burlington Able Sail and the LaSalle Park Marina are situated only minutes from the 403 or QEW highways. See the map at the bottom of this page.
Register for our program as a client on the Client Signup page or as a volunteer on the Volunteer Information page.
Able Sail Boats
Our program focuses on the Martin 16 sailboat, which is equipped to cater to physically/cognitively challenged people of all ages. The boats are extremely stable and can be sailed with either a companion instructor in the stern seat or solo by individual sailors who have attained enough experience to "go it alone".The Martin 16 is a keelboat design; easy to maintain and stable in all conditions. The Martin is famous for being "un-tippable and unsinkable".
These Martin 16 is also very competitive, so sailors who want to advance their skills from casual day sailing to racing are taught the fundamental of sailboat racing under the tutorship of our trained CYA instructors.
Contact Information
- President - Jim McDonnell, jmcdonn958@aol.com, (905) 317-9252
- Manager - Tom France, tom.hayhurst-france@sympatico.ca, (289) 253-9054
- Treasurer - Phil Taylor, ptaylor199@cogeco.ca 10 Cameron Ave. S., Hamilton, ON L8K 2W8
- Registrar - Jim Casey, jimcasey@rogers.com, (905) 575-5332
- Able Sail Dock - (416) 704-5975 (This phone is only available from June 26st to September 1st)
- Facebook Page
Donations
Burlington Able Sail is dependent upon financial support from the community, including Corporate, Service Clubs, and individual donors. To make a donation to this program please send an Interac e-Transfer to burlingtonablesail@gmail.com.
If e-transfer doesn't work for you, then you can also send a cheque payable to "Burlington Able Sail" and mail it to our Treasurer Phil Taylor, 10 Cameron Ave. S., Hamilton, ON L8K 2W8.
A charitable tax receipt will be issued for all monetary donations to the program.
Creating a safe and inclusive sport environment
Able Sail believes everyone involved in any role in the sport of sailing has the right to participate in a safe and inclusive sailing environment free of abuse, harassment, or discrimination collectively referred to as maltreatment. This right to fully enjoy the sport applies to everyone regardless of the level or type of sailing they participate in.
As such Able Sail, in partnership with Ontario Sailing is committed to the active evolution of their Safe Sport policies and practices to respond to the changing nature of Safe Sport in Canada. Our sport is continually working to support a focus on education, prevention, and response.
Support
Burlington Able Sail is associated with the Ontario Sailing Association, Sail Canada, and the Able Sail Network, providing sailing opportunities for people with disabilities at the national level.
The program is made possible by our Supporters:
- Burlington Sailing & Boating Club
- La Salle Park Marina Association
- Rotary International
- Ontario Sailing Association
- Ontario Trillium Foundation and
- generous donations by our Sponsors:
How to reach Able Sail
Call us: (905) 575-5332
Email: ablesail@burlbay.com
Last updated 8:47pm on 19 February 2025