Rutland Sailability sails its way to top prize

Rutland Sailability, based at Rutland Water, scooped the Royal Yachting Association Sailability team of the year at a glittering awards ceremony at Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire. Jonathan Schofield, chief instructor of Rutland Sailability, said: “Receiving the Royal Yachting Association Sailability team of the year puts the icing on the cake, acknowledging the efforts of all who have helped to create the many teams within the whole Rutland Sailability team that drives the overall sailing experience. “We have continued to grow from a small nucleus of people to a much larger organisation over the years, leading to the need for structural change. “Successful teams in large organisations don’t just happen, they are the result of hard work and dedication over an extended period of time.” Last year Rutland Sailability sent three sailors, Val Milward, Diane Faulks and Pat Crowley to the Hansa class world championships in Japan, as well as hosting the multiclass regatta for the 11th year running and acting as a training base for the British Invictus Games sailors. Millie Moody, a deafblind sailor, said: “Being deafblind means there are often huge barriers to learning new skills. “Fortunately, none of the volunteers saw my disabilities as a barrier and they all adapted their teaching methods around me for which I am extremely grateful.”