WA Para Sailing Academy Inc.

30/11/2025

AUS-IDP Update: Unity on Freshwater Bay

We are delighted to support and encourage Para sailing athletes with financial grants, as part of celebrations for our 2025 IDPwD - Unity on Freshwater Bay promotion and Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) - Pre-regatta training and coaching camp during the week.

Congratulations to the following award recipients!
🤑💙⛵️👏👏👏

🔹Xervier Doney - NZL
🔹Damien Hallam - QLD
🔹Sonja Macfarlane - QLD
🔹Neil Rowsthorn - QLD
🔹Jayne Boardman - NSW
🔹Gregory Myers - NSW
🔹Evan Milne - VIC
🔹Simon Bibby - VIC
🔹Tim Marchinton - VIC
🔹Susette Evans - WA

These individuals have actively participated in the IDP during the week and / or incurred significant financial expenses (travel, accommodation, charter boat fees) to participate in the 2025 edition of the Australian Para Sailing Championships, proudly hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

We are very grateful to the Development Disability WA for recognising the efforts of the WA Para Sailing Academy in providing grant funding of $1,000 to share with and support Para athletes and to help make sailing more inclusive and accessible.

Sailing for everyone @ Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club! 😊💙⛵️



Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
Rebound WA
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc
Australian Sailing
Australian Sailing - WA
Australian Hansa Class Association
Developmental Disability WA
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum

28/11/2025

AUS-IDP Update: Today’s exciting schedule..

🔹Para Classification - World Sailing official classification and supported pathway towards achieving a World Ranking and World Sailing ID.
Date: Friday, 28 November @ RFBYC.

🔹Morning Tea @ RFBYC - DInghy Training Centre. Everyone is welcome to join the pre-regatta excitement and camaraderie over coffee, cake and sailing chatter. Prizes and Charter boat - Financial grants will be awarded thanks to the generous team @ Developmental Disability WA.
Date: 10:00 am - 28 November @ RFBYC - DTC

🔹Para Wing-Foiling Debrief - Dinghy Training Centre. Sarah Ross and Grant Alderson will share insights, pictures and videos of yesterday’s fantastic demo session on the magnificent Freshwater Bay.
Date: 10:00 am - 28 November @ RFBYC - DTC

🔹Para Sailors Forum - World Sailing and Australian Sailing update on strategic developments and planning towards the reinstatement of sailing into the Paralympics in time for Brisbane 2032.
Date: 3:00 pm - Friday, 28 November @ RFBYC - Aubrey Sherwood Room, RFBYC - Main Clubhouse

It’s all happening @ Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club!! Happy Friday everyone! 😊💙⛵️

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
Rebound WA
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc
Australian Sailing - WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Developmental Disability WA

27/11/2025

AUS-IDP Update: Athlete Profile - Rachael Cox

IDP Support Coach – Rachael Cox (Paralympian, Beijing 2008 & AS Barranjoey Pin recipient, 2025)

Rachael first discovered sailing around the time of the Sydney 2000 Paralympics and her first sailing experience was in a Hansa 303 with Sailability WA, based at Royal Perth Yacht Club. After successfully transitioning into competitive club racing at RPYC, Rachael entered her first international championship event, competing in the 2.4mR International Class at the 2006 IFDS World Championships in Perth.

Shortly afterwards, Rachael enjoyed a successful trial at an Australian Sailing high-performance training camp and from 2007 through to 2011 she participated at the elite level, crewing in the two-person Paralympic class SKUD 18 at numerous international events.

Notable achievements during the 5 year period of time on the AS Paralympic Sailing Team include winning a Silver medal with Dan Fitzgibbon (helm) in the SKUD 18 class at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, and a Gold medal at the 2010 Sail for Gold event in Weymouth UK. Early in 2011 a new team was formed, as Jamie Dunross (Gold medallist, Sonar Class – Sydney 2000 Paralympics) and Rachael formed a partnership to make a bid for the 2012 Paralympic Games. In June 2011 Jamie and Rachael won a Bronze medal at the Sail for Gold event, Weymouth UK. Following at the same venue, at the IFDS event in July 2011 Jamie and Rachael placed 8th. Later in 2011 at Sail Melbourne, Jamie and Rachael placed 2nd. At the end of 2011, Rachael and Jamie were ranked as the 2nd Australian SKUD 18 team from three selection regattas, however narrowly missed out on selection for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

As an Australian Sailing accredited coach, Rachael shares her joy of sailing with students participating in AS Learn to Sail – Crew/Helm keelboat courses and Hansa dinghies as the sailing co-ordinator at Sailability WA.

Rachael’s most recent sailing passion is returning to elite competition and enjoying success in the Hansa Liberty fleet: achieving a Gold medal at the 2024 edition of the WA Para Sailing Championships (incorporated in the ICR hosted by RFBYC), Silver in the 2025 WA Hansa Class State Championships (hosted by RPYC), 13th at the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships in Sydney, 5th place in the Australian National Championships in 2025.

In recognition of Rachael’s distinguished elite sailing and Paralympic representation, Australian Sailing awarded her with a Barranjoey Pin in 2025, an incredibly prestigious honour and integral part of the Australian Sailing Team Alumni Program, showcasing the legacy and history of Olympic and Paralympic class sailing in Australia.

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
Rebound WA
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc
Developmental Disability WA
Australian Sailing - WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum

26/11/2025

AUS-IDP Update: Day 2 & 3 - Something for everyone!

Fabulous hospitality @ Freshie and Perth is certainly turning on some spectacular sailing weather for us all this week! Glorious sunshine and moderate sea breeze with some interesting shifts and variations to keep our local and visiting Para and Hansa class sailors busy and engaged in training drills and practice races.

Happy faces everywhere! 😊⛵️

🔹Inclusion Development Programme - Pre regatta training camp providing participants with access to world-class coaching in the Dinghy Training Centre and afternoon on-water sessions on Freshwater Bay.
Date: Monday - Friday, 24-28 November @ RFBYC.

🔹World Sailing IDP Coach - Grant Alderson
🔹Paralympic Medallist - Rachael Cox
🔹IDP Support Coach - John Sanderson
🔹IDP/RFBYC/WAPSA Coach - Bryce Hinton

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
Rebound WA
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc
Developmental Disability WA
Australian Sailing - WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum

25/11/2025

AUS-IDP Update: Day 1 - Practice race 1

Glorious conditions in Perth for the IDP and upcoming 2025 edition of the Australian Para Sailing Championships @ Freshie! 😎⛵️

🔹Inclusion Development Programme - Pre regatta training camp providing participants with access to world-class coaching in the Dinghy Training Centre and afternoon on-water sessions on Freshwater Bay.
Date: Monday - Friday, 24-28 November @ RFBYC.

🔹World Sailing IDP Coach - Grant Alderson
🔹Paralympic Medallist - Rachael Cox
🔹IDP Support Coach - John Sanderson
🔹IDP/RFBYC/WAPSA Coach - Bryce Hinton

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
Australian Sailing - WA
Rebound WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum
Developmental Disability WA

25/11/2025

It’s happening now @ Freshie! 😎⛵️

🔹Inclusion Development Programme - Pre regatta training camp providing participants with access to world-class coaching in the Dinghy Training Centre and afternoon on-water sessions on Freshwater Bay.
Date: Monday - Friday, 24-28 November @ RFBYC.

🔹World Sailing IDP Coach - Grant Alderson
🔹Paralympic Medallist - Rachael Cox
🔹IDP Support Coach - John Sanderson
🔹IDP/RFBYC/WAPSA Coach - Bryce Hinton

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
Australian Sailing - WA
Rebound WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum
Developmental Disability WA

15/11/2025

Celebrating Unity in Sailing and in Life!

International Day of People with Disability 2025 is fast approaching and our team are busy finalising plans for an epic week-long celebration, centred on the 2025 IDPwD theme of Unity and Inclusion.

As you would expect.. we’ve added our favourite elements into the mix + water/wind/waves and tweaked the theme just a little to showcase our fabulous host club Royal Freshwater Yacht Club and favourite sailing playground.

We are proud and excited to collaborate with RFBYC,
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc , Australian Sailing - WA and the friendly and supportive WA sailing community of inclusive sailing organisations and yacht clubs, to provide the following..

💜 Celebrating Unity on Freshwater Bay! 💙

Schedule of our 2025 IDPwD events @ Freshie:

🔹Inclusion Development Programme - Pre regatta training camp providing participants with access to world-class coaching on Freshwater Bay.
Date: Monday - Friday, 24-28 November @ RFBYC.

🔹Para Wing-foiling experience - Come & Try this exciting and exhilarating new development in para and inclusive sport on Freshwater Bay.
Date: TBC - Thursday, 27 November @ RFBYC.

🔹Para Classification - World Sailing official classification and supported pathway towards achieving a World Ranking and World Sailing ID.
Date: Friday, 28 November @ RFBYC.

🔹Morning Tea @ Freshwaters Cafe - Everyone is welcome to join the pre-regatta excitement and camaraderie over coffee, cake and sailing chatter. Prizes and Charter boat - Financial grants will be awarded thanks to the generous team @ Developmental Disability WA.
Date: 10:00 am - 28 November @ Freshwaters Cafe.

🔹Para Sailors Forum - World Sailing and Australian Sailing update on strategic developments and planning towards the reinstatement of sailing into the Paralympics in time for Brisbane 2032.
Date: TBC - Friday, 28 November @ RFBYC.

🔹2025 Australian Para Sailing Championships - Hansa 303 one-person, Hansa 303 two-person and Hansa Liberty fleets, contesting up to 9 races to determine medal winners in the Open / Inclusive, SheSails, Intellectual Disability and Para fleets.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, 28 & 29 Nov @ RFBYC.

🔹2025 IDPwD Celebration - Coffee, Cake & Sailing - Open House @ Freshie. Come and say hello to our fabulous team and checkout our incredible Hansa fleet of inclusive and accessible boats, featuring some wonderful and ingenious Universal Design attributes, by designer Chris Mitchell from Hansa Sailing Systems Pty Ltd.
Date: 10:00 am - Wednesday, 3 December @ RFBYC.

It’s all happening @ Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club!! We invite and encourage you to read our Celebrating Unity on Freshwater Bay article attached and look forward to welcoming you to Freshie soon. 🙏💙⛵️

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
Rebound WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum

The 2025 edition of the Australian Para Sailing Championships is being hosted in WA for the very first time.. from 29-30 November, 2025! WA Para Sailing Academy Inc. are delighted to collaborate with Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, Australian Sailing, s4E Foundation, WA Disabled Sports Association....

14/11/2025

We are all feeling so proud to be part of !! Fantastic!! 🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏

Congratulations to Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (WA) on winning Australian Sailing’s Club of the Year – Category A Award 👏

In 2025, RFBYC delivered a wide range of programs for all ages and skill levels, hosting major events like the International Classes Regatta, Dragon Nationals, and Warren Jones International Youth Regatta. The Club's entry-level programs, Twilight Sailing, and All Abilities Sailing initiatives have boosted participation, strengthened community engagement and provided a clear pathway for sailors.

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club | Australian Sailing - WA |

14/11/2025

It’s Friday afternoon and time to celebrate!! We are all so proud and excited to be part of 🤩💙⛵️

11/11/2025

We are delighted to share the results of the inaugural
💜 Aaron Camm Memorial Trophy Race - 2025 🧡
proudly hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on Sunday, 9th November from 2:30 pm.

Fastest: David Hinton - Sammy (AUS3403) RPYC
1st: Thisura Balasuriya - Little Ship (AUS3574) RFBYC
2nd: Robert Crofts - Barracuda (AUS3382) RFBYC
3rd: Jayden Bosveld - Glaukon (AUS3572) RFBYC

Congratulations David!! Aaron would be absolutely thrilled that he was able to successfully outsource this victory to you in his beloved “Sammy” - Hansa Liberty. 💜🧡⛵️

The event was staged in dynamic conditions with unsettled and choppy waters on Freshwater Bay and a building sea breeze ranging from 15-20 knots, adding to the excitement and challenge.

The result could not have been more perfect.. providing a fabulous conclusion to a weekend of celebration and reflection with Aaron’s lovely family and friends @ Freshie. Fantastic! 🏆👏👏👏 🎉🎉🎉

Aaron Camm - Always On Tour With
😎⛵️💜🧡✨


Royal Freshwater Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc
Australian Sailing - WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Rebound WA
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum

09/11/2025

Glorious conditions with anticipation & breeze building for the inaugural 💜 Aaron Camm Memorial Trophy Race 🧡 being proudly hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

Fantastic club hospitality and spectacular vantage points from the top lawn @ Freshie. Racing action from 2:00 pm today! 😎⛵️💜🧡✨

Aaron was a passionate advocate for disabled sport and served on the board of Rebound WA for many years. Aaron was also the inaugural Treasurer for the WA Para Sailing Academy Inc.

Sail on Aaron, your joyful spirit and memory will forever be part of our lives, and you will always be with us on .

- Stronger Than Ever! 🙏💙⛵️✨

Royal Freshwater Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
South of Perth Yacht Club
Princess Royal Sailing Club, Albany
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc
Australian Sailing - WA
Australian Sailing
Australian Hansa Class Association
Rebound WA
Para Inclusive World Sailing: Sailors Forum

07/11/2025

Tonight we pause to remember our dear sailing friend and club-mate Aaron Camm. Aaron sadly passed away on November 7th last year.. at the tender age of just 34. To commemorate and celebrate Aaron’s life and 1st anniversary, we have arranged two special events this weekend. 😔 💜✨🧡⛵️

💜 The Aaron Camm Family Picnic on the Wharf 🧡
Morning tea with snacks & treats for kids and adults alike. Sailing for kids & family in Aaron’s beloved “Sammy” along with our Hansa 303. Natalie Alexander is coming down with a very special friend to meet the kids and to have a sail with Aaron’s nephew and nieces. Everyone welcome!

Saturday: From 10:00 - 12:00 pm

💜 The Aaron Camm Memorial Trophy Race 🧡
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club have kindly agreed to update the official fixtures this weekend to include this very special feature event. It will automatically be incorporated into the RFBYC Keelboat and Off The Beach - Sailing Handbook in future years and will become a lovely tribute event for us all to look forward to each year. If you can, please join us on the water on Sunday for Aaron! It would be fantastic to see his beautiful Hansa Liberty (decked out in Perth Glory colours) on the water and hopefully winning one for the big guy. Let’s find a way to fix this race every year for Aaron! Everyone welcome!

Sunday: 2:00 - 4:00 pm

We miss you, Aaron. Your passion, spirit and legacy remain forever with us. Glory to Aaron and all absent family and friends! 💜🧡💜🧡💜🧡

- Stronger Than Ever!