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Sailors with disABILITIES (SWD) is a not for profit organisation which currently is engaged in developing and implementing sailing programs for the disabled, the disadvantaged and their carers. SWD use sailing as a vehicle to offer disabled and disadvantaged children, young people and carers the opportunity to sail with an integrated disabled crew.
Our boat and programs also create a venue for positive role modelling and a hands-on experience and opportunity for our commercial partners to see first hand what these programs are all about.
Our Core Objectives To heighten community awareness of the disabled To use sailing as a medium for people with disabilities to experience something that previously may not have been available to them To be a facilitator of change, both in the way that the world looks at disabled people and the way that disabled people look at themselves To provide kids in general with the opportunity to experience blue water sailing To demonstrate what can be achieved
The heart and soul of SWD and its founder is David Pescud. David today is still the driving force of SWD operations and obviously the sailing expertise required for SWD to function.
Throughout the 14 year history of SWD, David has been the leader, teacher, boat builder, host, visionary and most of all, caring and encouraging to the many disabled people who have benefited from sailing with SWD. He continues to be dedicated to demonstrating the capabilities of disabled people of all ages in a positive and heart warming way.
David has sailed continuously for almost 50 years and does so with a passion that is infectious. He also has a strong commitment to teaching, and all who sail with him benefit. During his youth David was repeatedly ‘caned' for refusing to read before discovering he was a sufferer of dyslexia. His experience with dyslexia has given him a very personal insight into living with a disability, especially one that is not obvious to the casual observer.
David went from being an illiterate ‘failure' to managing several businesses. By 45 he had earned enough to retire and pursue his dream of sailing. His story has been told by Helen O'Neil in the book "Life without Limits" and has been inspiring many ever since.
Current Programs
Each year the SWD yacht Kayle undertakes a range of programs and regattas aimed at providing a balance between the first timer on the water and the elite racers. Our plans are to operate a number of core programs for the current sailing season, which will include:
The School's Program
This program is organised during the school week and schools are drawn from the Department of Education with their assistance. Schools have the opportunity to Try Sail Day on board the SWD boat, as the first step in the sail training program. Try Sail Days give students the opportunity to experience sailing and with a positive outcome they then have the opportunity to formalise their sailing skill development through an accredited Australian Yachting Federation (AYF) and Australian Sports Foundation program.
Currently this program runs in Sydney on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Timing: through good weather: late September - May
The Kids Program
On Saturdays and Sundays the boat is made available to other specific disability and disadvantaged groups to have a Try Sail Day opportunity as outlined above in the schools program. An example of the diversity of participants is: Indigenous kids from Far West Qld, Kids at Risk Sydney, Royal Blind Society, Youth Renal Failure and Northcott Society.
Currently run on Saturdays and Sundays
Timing: through good weather: late September - May
Northern Program
This program is a good working example of the SWD approach. There are two races involved Sydney to Gold Coast and Sydney to Gladstone. These are great races for kids who have been through the SWD accredited training program to experience first hand being part of a crew and the challenges and adventure of ocean racing.
It also creates a vehicle for SWD Try Sail days, which commence in Mackay and continue down the coast of Queensland and NSW, through a variety of ports. The number of kids participating are 750 + per annum. This is achieved by a morning and afternoon sail day in each port. The demand for this program far outweighs our time available.
Timing: end July - mid September
Carers Program
In 2006, Sailors with disABILITIES trialled an innovative program, it was called "Put Back". Designed around the idea of helping those who help society the most ie. Carers.
With 25% of Australia impacted by a disability of one sort or another and with an ageing population, the role of the carer has become paramount in our society. We see this as a good opportunity to support those in our society that are undervalued. These people range from mums and dads to extended family.
The Kayle - The Boat
The centre piece of all our SWD initiatives is a 52ft Lyons designed grand prix offshore racing yacht. Delivered in 2000, "Kayle", named after SWD founder Dave Pescud's daughters, was designed to be ergonomically sensitive to the needs of the disabled, yet in every sense of the word to be an ocean racer.
Easily "spotted" wherever she sails by a gleaming light blue hull covered with brightly coloured bubbles - Kayle is built to sail but more importantly she is built for fun.
Kayle carries 120 square meters of sail when fully rigged and as you would expect of a racing yacht she also carries a full complement of racing spinnakers, genoas and associated equipment. When racing, a crew of 12 is on board, but when cruising, Kayle can easily cater for 25 crew and passengers.
When in her home port of Sydney, Kayle is moored courtesy of the Cruising Yacht Club at Rushcutters Bay but its mantra of the SWD that Kayle spend as much time as possible
sailing, providing the opportunity and the experience for disabled people to have a go and compete on equal terms with able bodied sailors.
Past Performances
Since the launch of Kayle in 2000 and SWD in 1993, our best performance has being able to provide over 10,000 disabled people and their carers with an on board sailing experience and participated in one of our programs designed specifically for adults, kids and their carers.
For those disabled sailors who wish to compete at the elite level Kayle has an impressive list of achievements including:
Winning their division in the devastating 1998 and 2007
Sydney Hobart Yacht races. 2nd in Division in 2009.
Competing in the Sydney - Hobart for the last thirteen years
Holding the world record for non stop circumnavigation of Australia
Divisional winners in the Sydney to Mackay Race in 2006 and 2007 | 
