MONTREAL -- Basil Katsivalis leaves his wheelchair behind when he sails.<\/p>\n
On land you gotta wheel yourself around, but once [youre] on the water, its amazing, he says.<\/p>\n
Katsivalis is a member of the Association Quebcoise de Voile Adapte (AQVA), which invites anyone with a physical disability to try sailing, with no experience necessary.<\/p>\n
Its very safe, the boat is designed for disabled sailors, Katsivalis explains.<\/p>\n
The AQVA headed out to Lac-St-Louis on Aug. 21 to participate in a regatta, which saw a turnout of 42 boats from various clubs.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the winds werent strong enough to race, but AQVA sailors said they enjoyed it all the same.<\/p>\n
You can understand, being on the water is the closest thing to freedom for me, says Victor Levy, another AQVA sailor who uses a wheelchair. Im equal to you when Im in my boat.<\/p>\n
Fellow member Nancy Macleod feels a similar sense of satisfaction when she's on the water.<\/p>\n
If you're paralyzed or if you're not 100 per cent in your body, your mind is still alert. It makes a big difference to go out on these boats, she says.<\/p>\n
Navigating strong winds and currents, sailing can be a highly technical sport. In this case, its a matter of controlling a heavy boat with a double-hull and sturdy keel.<\/p>\n
Although in this case a bit more wind would have been helpful, there are plenty more sailing excursions to come.<\/p>\n
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'It's amazing': disabled sailors on finding freedom in the waters - CTV News Montreal<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MONTREAL -- Basil Katsivalis leaves his wheelchair behind when he sails. On land you gotta wheel yourself around, but once [youre] on the water, its amazing, he says Continue reading