‘Disabled people do not exist’

Irene Wentink, in a wheelchair herself, has been an acknowledged national member of the jury and an umpire for 11 years and now is the secretary of the international jury at the Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010. She used to be an enthusiastic 470 sailor herself, but ‘fell out of a file cabinet’ while working as a nurse and ended up in a wheelchair.
While rehablitating she played basketbal and in doing so met a boy she knew before from sailing. He told her about the possibility of disabled sailing and Irene decided to go for it. Soon after she was selected for the Worlds 1999 in Cadiz. But she was also in protestcommittees and as such was being asked by Dutch member of the jury Guus Moes to join the jury..

Irene likes it: ‘As a sailor ofcourse, but also in connection with my work (Irene, after re-education is a social worker now and works for the city council), which involves handling rules as well and every sailing event I learn again.’
Does the IFDS World Championship have an extra dimension for her?
‘Yes, ofcourse I enjoy participating in this event! And by the way: disabled people do not exist, you mean people with a handicap or a physical deficiency.’

Irene is a perfect example of people participating in the Worlds, people, who through a physical setback have become stronger persons mentally, an example for all of us.

Three cheers for the Koreans

The Koreans are having a great time, laughing their heads off at anything that is being asked, but understanding only half what is said. That’s why they have had problems from the start.
The main problem being: how to obtain a boat you want to sail in the IFDS Worlds, second problem: how to sail a boat that you have never sailed before? They managed to charter a Sonar in Scotland and two 2.4mR’s in Holland.
The Koreans especially ordered footsteered 2.4’s , while being in a wheelchair, so when the boats were here they found out this did not work. Luckily, with technical help from the organisation’s chairman, they could soon be changed into handsteered boats. Once that was solved, the Koreans started inspecting the boats they were going to sail and were stunned by these interesting items.

Next the Sonar: it was delivered by an Scotsman who drove all the way to Medemblik. When he arrived he found out that the Koreans did not bring any sails as promised, but luckily they could borrow a set from a friendly fellow competitor. It took an afternoon for the treasurer, the Scottsman and the Koreans to sort out the payment for the Sonar, and after having tried all Korean creditcards that were available the local bank proved to be able to sort it out. By that time the Scottsman had missed his plane back but he seemed to be relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere of the Worlds.
That also being solved, the Koreans in 2.4 ’s could finally take part in the Practice Race, but weren’t able to start in time. In the official races they compete with the Japanese for the last position in the field. If they end one but last, great cheers echo over Medemblik’s waters.
When they were asked about their sailing experiences, it appeared that before this World Championship they had only been sailing in Optimists…. many years ago. But never mind, they are having a great time. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Having a good time, racing your own race…. the Koreans took the effort to come all the way and are enjoying themselves immensely, it’s great to have them competing as well.

Throwing myself around

Bryan Tabler, from Florida, is among the crew from Rick Doerr’s Sonar USA 674, replacing Brad Kendell, who stayed at home because of childbirth. ‘I became a father myself 15 months ago’, says Bryan, who met his wife during the Worlds 2007 in Greece, where she was a volunteer. They married soon after.

Bryan (46) has been in a wheelchair since the age of nine, when he was involved in a car crash. He started sailing as a teenager, when he had his own boat, with no adaptor. ‘In fact I am always throwing myself around in the boat.’

It was not until 2005 that he started racing the Sonar, but then again was out of sport for two years, because he took his master’s degree, MBA, in business administration, meanwhile working as a business facilitator for
the (Walt) Disney Institute©. It’s Bryan’s first time in this team. He also sailed a multihull, a one man boat, but he prefers the Sonar, because of the team work. ‘I have been sailing four different classes, but the Sonar suits me best.’
Talking about teamwork: today Bryan’s wife and child are joining him, so he is having happy families ashore as well as in the boat.

The Australian Miss Sunshine

Qualified as class one, meaning being severely handicapped, is Ame Barnbrook from Australia, steering the Skud 44. Togehter with Lindsay Mason she became 7th today (Sunday, July 11)and was 5th the day before. ‘Today was a bit difficult’, says skipper Ame, because of windshifts dropping from 15 to 5 knots.’ But no problem for Ame, who, being handicapped from birth, has overcome greater difficulties. With no arms, only half a leg and three toes she has been sailing in adapted dinghy boats from her seventh year on, using only her toes and even plays the trumpet! Four years ago she started racing in the Skud, electronically steering with her toes.

Whether she will make it to the Paralympics depends on the results of the other Australian team, Ame says. She and her teammate Lindsay will no doubt try her utmost. She is in Holland only for the Worlds and hardly has a chance to do some sightseeing in Holland, as next week she will be heading for London for a holiday. Ame was greatly surprised by the Dutch weather, since she was advised to bring sweaters and coats and now it’s steaming hot….

‘But I’m not complaining, let the sun shine in!’

Back from hell

‘Hi, I’m Rod, used to be called Rodney, but I’m without the knee now’, says Rod Angwin with a big smile. Rod, Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden are the crew of an Australian Sonar, competing in the Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010. Three years ago a car crashed into Rod’s Harley Davidson and Rod lost his left leg: ‘As I looked up, I saw it lying beside me’….

Since he has been in sports all his life – hockey was his thing – he decided to look for sports that suited his new situation, so he tried wheelchair rugby and sailing. Disabled sailing suited him fine: ‘So here I am now, racing in the World Championship, we have a good chance of ending among the best seven, enabling us to compete in the Paralympics.That would be a dream come true.’ Rod represents the competitor of the Worlds2010 with a strong mind in a strong body. After the accident he started his life all over again: together with a friend, disabled as well, he decided to get away from it all in Thailand, where he set up a resort with the appropriate name Getaway, has a new, Thai, girlfriend and rides a motorbike again, named ‘Back from hell’.

Just one of those stories behind a competitor of IFDS Worlds.

One big family

Bjønar Erikstad (29) from Norway is ofcourse well known in the sailing world, he has been sailing for twenty years now. He started in an optimist, then sailed a Soling, together with his parents and was a tactician on boats of friends. Since 1996 Bjonar ( with no arms, but with hands amply compensating this deficiency) sails the 2.4mR. He won bronze in Worlds 2001 and 2006, today (Sunday, July11) Bjønar was 6th, ranking him 4th overall so far.

When asked whether he will sail the Paralympics, he modestly answers, that this is up to Norway, since it is not the person but the nation that is being represented in the Paralympics. Since there is only one 2.4mR representing Norway he has a fair chance! ‘Anyway, I am aiming at good results at every sailing event. I like racing here, because of the nice sunny atmosphere. Hopefully there will be a little more wind during the next races.’ Meanwhile his mother has joined us, she accompanies Bjønar in all sailing events and comfirms Bjonar’s remarks about the atmosphere at the the Regatta Center. ‘Actually we are one big family at the IFDS Worlds, we know each other from sailing events all over the world, it’s great to be here’, conclude mother and son this short interview.

Stories: Marijke Simons
On the water photography: Sander van der Borch
Shore portraits: Paul Rietveld