For 10 years, Sailability Tauranga has been helping people of all abilities experience the simple joy of sailing.

This month, the community-focused club celebrated the decade milestone with a special waterfront anniversary event.

The volunteer-run organisation was built on a simple mission: to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to develop self-confidence and a sense of achievement in a safe environment.

It offers opportunities for school-aged children through to seniors, encouraging them to participate and challenge themselves in a variety of sailing experiences.

Alistair Eagleson, chairman of Sailability’s board of trustees and director of the sailing programme, said the organisation wanted everyone to have the same opportunities.

“Sailability will continue to take the dis out of disability and give people of all abilities the opportunity to sail.”

He said the programme was open to everyone with a disability or impairment and also had sailors with low vision and hearing impairments.

“For some sailors, we can provide sailing experiences and, with support, they can achieve and face challenges in a way they may not have thought possible.”

Sailing options ranged from relaxed sailing to learning the ropes, participating in events and even racing.

Eagleson said Sailability Tauranga’s growth had been “rapid” compared with other clubs around the country.

More than 1000 sailing experiences are delivered each year, with about 36 sailors taking to the water each sailing day, supported by a dedicated team of more than 30 volunteers.

Some of Sailability Tauranga's original sailors during a sailing session in 2016.

“A highlight is seeing the sailors’ reactions to being on the water in a small yacht, at one with the environment, excited, some chatty, some quietly reflective.”

Sailors are supported by volunteers with equipment, including specialised hoists allowing those with limited mobility to safely get in and out of boats.

There is one sailing day per week for eight months of the year and fortnightly sailing days during June, July and August.

A sailing day involves one hour on the water, including a tow from the Sulphur Point marina out onto the harbour, and a 45-minute sail before being towed back to the marina.

“Observing sailors progressing in the sailing programme is rewarding as they prove they are motivated to meet the challenges of sailing,” Eagleson said.

The 10th anniversary celebration was held on June 23, and was open to all current and past volunteers, including trustees, sailors, their caregivers, supporting organisations and families.

Club captain Rhonda Ritchie said the organisation was filled with “keen sailors” who worked hard to create an inclusive atmosphere.

The original Sailability Tauranga team from 2016, pictured at the organisation's 10th anniversary celebration.

“We encourage respect, inclusiveness, and quality, and so I like to think that our attitude towards these sailors has a lot to do with camaraderie and the fact that they come back.”

Ritchie said that over time, sailors often became more confident and integrated into the wider sailing community.

“It gives us all an excuse to carry on sailing when we might be getting past sailing bigger boats; we’re still cutting around on the water.”

She said the organisation took great satisfaction in seeing sailors progress within the programme.

“To be out on the water in any form is a wonderful activity; it gives adventure, builds self-confidence, and it’s a way to get some freedom from the mundane of everyday.”

Sailability Tauranga is now looking to the future, with plans to develop a permanent, fit-for-purpose storage facility for its boats and equipment.

Ritchie said expanding the organisation’s fleet would depend on securing a dedicated storage space.

“At the moment we’re sort of ticking over but that will be our next push, building our own storage shed, to give us more room to expand.”