Able Sail Toronto

07/06/2025

Today we had a visit from members of the Great Lakes Cruising Club (GLCC) that were participating in a GLCC Rally. GLCC has more than 2,500 members in the US and Canada; members take their boats far and wide on North America’s five Great Lakes and their tributaries and can be seen on the water from Duluth to Quebec; Chicago to Buffalo; and from Toledo to Toronto. Since 1934, GLCC members have explored all of the Lakes and their connecting tributaries, including the Mississippi, Tennessee-Tombigbee, Erie Canal, Trent-Severn Waterway, Rideau Canal, and the St. Lawrence River. Some have also done the Great Loop and others have crossed oceans.

National Yacht Club was on the schedule and this gave an opportunity to visit Able Sail Toronto, learn about the Martin16 sailboats, the assistive devices, doing transfers and then we went out for a sail in lovely conditions.
GLCC, thank you for joining us today, it was a pleasure!

Great Lakes Cruising Club

07/01/2025

Happy Canada Day! Today we celebrate the beauty, strength, and unity of our incredible country.
From coast to coast, we honor our rich history, diverse cultures, and the freedom we cherish. Whether you’re enjoying festivities or a relaxing day, Happy Canada Day, dear friends! 🍁❤️

06/21/2025

A transfer bench is another method for participants to get into the sailboats with ease and independence. Participants who are ambulatory or using a walker or other assistive devices can sit on the platform and then slide down the ramp into the sailboat. Here's another participant using the new bench.

06/21/2025

A transfer bench is another method for participants to get into the sailboats with ease and independence. Participants who are ambulatory or using a walker or other assistive devices can sit on the platform and then slide down the ramp into the sailboat.

05/30/2025

🚨 2025: Celebrate with Able Sail Toronto! ⛵️
We're all set for the Season Opener on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 1:00PM – 4:00PM at the National Yacht Club!

05/30/2025

REMINDER - I would like to personally invite you to our Able Sail Toronto season launch this Saturday May 31st from 1 to 4 pm, we will be displaying the assistive sailboats, transfer equipment and assistive device that we use to create equity for the participants.
We'll start with some intro's in the dining room at 1pm and then move out onto the Able Sail dock to demonstrate the boats, lifts and some new equipment we've been working on.
We'd love to have you!
(please RSVP to Eleanor at [email protected])

05/30/2025

Sail Canada Accessible Sailing Professional Development Module ⛵

The updated Sail Canada Accessible Sailing Professional Development Module was delivered May 24 & 25 in partnership with Voile Quebec, Pointe-Claire Yacht Club and l'Association québécoise de voile adaptée. The weekend included training three new facilitators: Karen-Ann Xavier, Alex Byczko, Kat Walker.
Thank you to Jenny Davey and Paula Stone for the tremendous efforts they have put into updating this module and delivering the training.
This was held during the 2025 National AccessAbility Week taking place across the country this week, May 25-31, and the theme this year is "Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future". More details about the 2025 National AccessAbility Week > https://www.canada.ca/.../national-accessability-week.html

On the picture/Sur la photo :
Back row/rangée arrière (L to R/G à D): Alex Byczko, Simone Shapiro, Kat Walker, Jenny Davey, Karen-Ann Xaiver, Paula Stone
Front row/rangée avant (L to R/G à D): Simon Hogue, Jacques Fortier, Frederic Fortier
📷 Alex Byczko
Able Sail
AbleSail Network

05/30/2025

Able Sail Toronto has been awarded a grant as part of Sail Canada’s 2025 “Sailing for All” initiative. This initiative was created to support grassroots programs delivered by Member Clubs and Schools focused on providing grassroots sailing experiences for individuals from underserved or underrepresented groups, at very low or no cost to participants. Programs must also be designed to engage participants from one or more of the following communities: Black, Indigenous, Racialized, 2SLFBTQI+, Low-Income People, Persons with a Disability, Newcomers to Canada, or Seniors.

Kingston, May 1, 2025 – Sail Canada is pleased to announce that 26 member sailing clubs and schools from across the country have been awarded a combined total of $80,750 as part of Sail Canada’s 2025 “Sailing for All” initiative.

05/08/2025

🚤 Upgrading Freedom on the Water! 🛠️

We’re thrilled to show an adaptive innovation project at Able Sail Toronto: the KAPE seat upgrade for the Martin 16 sailboat!

This adaptive seat features enhanced trunk support with adjustable side bolsters, a wide neoprene chest strap, and optional headrest. This gives sailors with limited core strength better stability, comfort, and confidence on the water.

And now, we’re working on integrating a 4-point racing harness for added safety and customization. Inspired by motorsport-grade gear, this next-level support is designed to meet the needs of sailors who require secure yet flexible upper-body positioning.

This is what accessibility in sport should look like ... responsive, high-performance, and user-centered.

Stay tuned as we continue prototyping and testing with our incredible community. Real-world innovation starts here. 💪

*** REMEMBER, SAILING STARTS SOON, MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER AND BOOK YOUR SAILS! FEEL FREE TO DM US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ANY SUPPORT.

04/24/2025

Meet the Crew: Davis Macdonald 🚨

We’re stoked to welcome Davis to the Able Sail 2025 team!

Davis is a certified CANSail instructor all the way from Vancouver, BC, where he’s been teaching sailing at Mac Sailing School out at Jericho Beach. That spot’s home to both the Jericho Sailing Centre and the Adaptive Sailing Association of BC, so Davis is no stranger to inclusive sailing spaces.

When he's not on the water, Davis is studying aerospace engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (with a 4.0 GPA, no big deal 👀) and is part of the university’s Formula Racing Team — yup, he literally designed and modeled the seat for an electric Formula 1-style racecar!

And as if that’s not enough... he's also a competitive volleyball player.

Brains, brawn, and boat skills. We can’t wait to see Davis bring all that energy to the docks this season. Welcome aboard, Davis! ⛵💥

04/16/2025

Meet Andrew Kenny, a lifelong sailor and the newest addition to the Able Sail Toronto team!​

Andrew has been immersed in sailing from a young age, competing in various fleets and locations. He has spent the past two summers teaching sailing to both adults and children. Currently, he's a first-year Politics, Philosophy, and Economics student at Queen's University and a member of the Queen's Sailing Team.

Andrew's competitive sailing experience includes participating in the VX One class, where he and his brother Matt secured second place at the "Not the Canadians" Regatta in 2020.

He was also part of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club's crew that clinched the 25th Canada's Cup in 2021

Now, Andrew brings his passion and experience to Able Sail Toronto, eager to share the joy of sailing with everyone.​

Welcome aboard, Andrew!

04/05/2025

Karen-Ann Xavier received the King Charles III Coronation award. Recipients made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

"I am truly humbled and deeply honoured to have received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded by the Government of Canada and the Office of the Governor General, presented by MP Kevin Vuong at the Royal Canadian Military Institute."