General News
17 May, 2025
Making leisure on the water more accessible
LEADING accessible sporting provider Sailability Cairns is making waves in the community, with participants and volunteers celebrating the launch of an all-new 12-person aluminium pontoon boat.
First established in October 2014, Sailability Cairns, has in 11 years, provided over 5000 unique on-water experiences, using accessibility-focused initiatives and mechanisms to provide an unmatched sporting and social opportunity for people with a disability.
Representing three years of dedicated effort from Sailability Cairns and supporters, the purpose-built wheelchair-accessible boat will be launched from Tingira St’s Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron at 2pm tomorrow (Saturday, May 17).
Sailability Cairns president Jeff Crofts said the vessel was a huge achievement and he paid tribute to English Engineering’s Allan Henderson who poured hundreds of hours of voluntary labour into the craft.
“Allan has been a steadfast supporter of our program since its inception,” Mr Crofts said.
“His expertise and commitment have been invaluable, from building trailers for our small sailing boats to designing and constructing custom launching trolleys.
“Without his support, we could not have initiated our operations.”
Mr Crofts also thanked Cairns Boat Hire, who had generously provided a small pontoon vessel for the past five years.
“Our decision to invest in our own pontoon boat will expand our program even further, providing more people the chance to experience the benefits of getting out on the water and feeling the breeze on their faces,” he said
