Kayle

SWD KayleSWD Kayle
  • Our principle program delivery boat is a purpose built for disabled people 52ft Lyons grand prix offshore racing yacht
  • Kayle was designed and built in 2000 to be ergonomically sensitive to the needs of the disabled, yet in every sense of the word to be an ocean racer.
  • Kayle can carry up to 4 wheelchairs and is accessible to any disabled person
  • When racing, a crew of up to 16 is on board but, when cruising, Kayle can easily cater for 25 crew and passengers
  • Moored at CYCA, Rushcutters Bay, NSW, Australia
  • SWD also has access to a range of boats for our programs in Sydney and along the east coast of Australia.

Winning team

Since the launch of Kayle in 2000 and SWD in 1993, our key achievement has been to provide over 10,000 disabled people and their carers with an on-board sailing experience.

For those disabled sailors who wish to compete at the elite level Kayle has an impressive list of achievements including:

  • 2010 Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta 2nd
  • 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart 2nd in Division
  • 2009 Audi Winter Series- 3rd overall
  • 2007 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race - division winner, 20th overall
  • 2007 Audi Sydney to Mackay race - divisional winner
  • 2006 Audi Sydney to Mackay race - divisional winner
  • 13 consecutive Sydney to Hobart races
  • 1998 Sydney to Hobart - divisional winners, 9th overall (one of the few to finish)
  • 2003 World Record - non stop, unassisted circumnavigation of Australia 37 days 1 hr

Statistics

It is a no compromise yacht designed by David Lyons some statistics are:

  • Designer: David Lyons
  • Year Built: 2000
  • Length (LOA) : 16.2m
  • Waterline Length : 13.426m
  • Beam : 4.3m
  • Draft : 3.3m
  • 5 tonne bulb keel
  • Displacement : 9,700kg
  • Weight : 10 ton
  • Water Ballast Capacity : 1300 litres
  • Mast height : 28m
  • 2.5m rudder
  • 7m boom
  • J 6.2m
  • Number of winches : 7
  • Maximum speed : 26.57kts 2008 S2H (08 S2H max wind 42 knots)
  • Engine capacity : 48hp Bukh turbo diesel
  • Racing crew : up to 16
  • Berths : 10
  • Personal EPIRBs : 16 PLB (406MHz)
  • Communication system - VHF, HF, Sat phone and Next G
  • Computers: Toshiba and IBM Laptops for Navigation, weather and email communication
  • 2 computers running on board (however for the documentary "DisAbled Bodied Sailors" we had 3)
  • Silva instruments - 6 strings of info at the mast and another 4 strings at the steering stations
  • 2 GPS running at all times
  • Power consumption is 7 amps per hour which means we have to charge our batteries twice a day for 1.5 hours
  • Fuel range capacity - 160 litres at 2.5ltrs per hour @ 7.5knots
  • 130 litres of fresh water is stowed in 2 stainless steel tanks
  • 50 litres of emergency fresh water
  • 2 first aid kits- 1 day kit and 1 Category 1 AYF safety kit
  • Smoke, orange, parachute and white flares
  • Safety harnesses and Personal Floatation Devices (PFD) for all crew + spares
  • 4 burner gas stove and oven
  • 100 litre freezer
  • 16 man life raft
  • Every crew has their own 406 EPIRB (provided) and a bum bag containing a disposable knife, a small torch, cyalume sticks, sea dye, a bright fluro cap and several empty wine bladders.

Why? It is proven the fluoro cap will be seen far better night or day to improve search and rescue in the event of a MOB (man overboard). As for the empty wine bladders, a versatile little personal floatation device.

FOOD

All meals are precooked and frozen in individual foil trays then re-heated in the oven and served during watches.

CLOTHING

The crew mostly wear shorts and T shirts, non slip shoes, good gloves and secure cap or hat to sail. In colder climates, thermals are the 1st layer, next fleecey mid layer, then specially designed, good quality wet weather gear. It doesn't matter if your wet but you must stay warm.

CREW SAFETY TRAINING

All the crew has certified sea survival training. A lot of the crew has senior first aid training, radio operator's licence as well as a good working knowledge of the yacht and the technology required to save lives and how to use it. Man over board drills and many other aspects of safety, both in Harbour and off shore, are part of our daily routine. Yachting is a great sport but it needs to be carried out in a safe as possible environment.

CREW

Offshore the boat carries a life raft for 16 people. Our crew numbers range from 12-16 people, depending on circumstances e.g. a Sydney to Hobart race (640 NM) will traditionally see 13 -14 people on board while a Sydney to Southport race, being shorter (380 NM) and part of our training program, will see up to16. Our kids try sail days on the Harbour and in closed waters can go as high as 20, as can our corporate days.

SPONSORSHIP

Sailors with disABILITIES has been very fortunate over the last 16 years of our existence. We have had great sponsorship from Aspect Computing, KAZ, NRMA Insurance, Australian Sports Foundation, 3M, Brokenwood Wines, Scomar, FGI, David Lyons Yacht designs and Comtech. Over the years there have also been very generous donations from private individual donors as well.

2010 AND BEYOND

However 2010 finds us without a major sponsor and running on empty. At this point the future looks quite bleak. Like a million other "not for profits" we are seeking assistance; no we are not seeking assistance we are seeking a partner, some one that believes in what we believe in, some one who can use our media profile, someone who wants to be part of tomorrow. So if you know anyone or, if you can, we would love to hear from you. In the meantime there are kids to take sailing, races to race, attitudes to change, sunsets to see and a harbour full of penguins, our KAZ program to expand and much more. We will keep going for as long as we can.