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It may sound counter-intuitive, but sailing is an extremely accessible sport.

Thanks to modern technology, individuals with a whole range of physical disabilities can sail. That is, sail as in sail a boat, not be taken for a sail. (We are talking about being an active participant not a watcher.)

Physical function has no bearing on someone’s sailing ability, so long as they are in a suitable “adaptive” boat. It’s deeply moving to observe wheelchairs lining the docks and consider that out on the sea – paradoxically, such an unforgiving environment – people’s disabilities are transformed. They operate a boat like any other sailor.

Adaptive sailing clubs are dotted across the world, run by volunteers whose rewards come from seeing the change that comes over someone with a disability when they realize sailing is a sport they can not only actively participate in, but do so independently.

It doesn’t matter if you are paralyzed from the neck down, you can still operate an adaptive boat and sail solo. You can race against, and beat able-bodied sailors, or you can just enjoy an afternoon on the water, putting yourself against the elements.

While there are a number of adaptive sailboats out there, the Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia uses the Martin 16. This specially designed sloop can be sailed by joystick, or by a mouth-operated sip ‘n’ puff system, for people with no arm movement.

The ocean is an equalizer: there are only good sailors and bad ones; disability doesn’t come into it.