Enthusiastic Response to AbleSail PEI Introduction

Aug 14, 2025

On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the Charlottetown Yacht Club hosted a demonstration introducing the Island community to adaptive sailing. Ben Keizer, founder of Able Sail PEI, in co-operation with Sail PEI, ParaSport and Recreation PEI and Spinal Cord PEI organized a day-long opportunity for the public to view a Martin 16 sail boat and to hear how it can be adapted so that those with a wide range of physical disabilities can learn to sail, independently.

Paul Tingley, paralympian gold medalist (2016), of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, shared his inspiring story with the audience, including his adventures competing in Sydney, Australia, 2000; Athens, Greece, 2004; Beijing, China, 2008; London, Great Britain, 2012 and Rio, Brazil in 2016. The Able Sail program from Shediac, New Brunswick, generously provided their Martin 16 for the demonstration and the expertise of Mark Bridges who provided details about the boat’s mechanics and practical insights gained from running their highly successful adaptive sailing program since the 1980s. Initially imported from France, Shediac now is the longest running Able Sail program in Canada and provides sailing instruction, racing programs and family keel boat experiences to individuals with lower body weakness, individuals with both

upper and lower body weakness, individuals with blindness and individuals with mental health issues like anxiety and PTSD.

The attendees to the June 28th demonstration were excited to learn about the Shediac program and eagerly signed up to support having a similar program based in PEI. This initial turnout saw 26 potential new sailors and 15 potential Able Sail volunteers sign up to support the PEI program.

A second demonstration day was held July 12th which also attracted new potential sailors, new volunteers and potential funders. On July 12th, John Emery, President of Able Sail Shediac, returned to the newly renovated Charlottetown Yacht Club with the Martin 16 adaptive sailboat and encouraging words for the launching of the Able Sail PEI Program. The Charlottetown Yacht Club members contributed their support. Many commented that they felt that this program

would allow them to share the experience of sailing with family members and friends who had previously not been able to join them on the water.

These demonstrations had been organized to “test the waters” with the thought that sufficient interest might be able to support a modest program starting next June, 2026. However, founder, Ben Keizer, was pleasantly surprised to see the Able Sail PEI program progress much sooner than expected. He and Jeff Perry, Executive Director of ParaSport PEI responded quickly and positively to an invitation from John Emery, arranging for 10 new PEI parasailors to get out on the water at the Shediac Bay Yacht Club, Sunday, August 10, 2025.

This promising beginning for AbleSail PEI was funded by a grant from the ParticipACTION Community Challenge and Sail PEI. AbleSail PEI has the potential to enhance the accessibility of the Charlottetown Yacht Club, and to share the joys of sailing with a more diverse community on PEI for the years to come.