Tomorrow I will officially launch the 2015 Hansa Class National Championships at the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Sandy Bay.
About 100 athletes from every state and territory will take part in the four day competition, hosted by the DSS in conjunction with Sailability Tasmania and the Australian Hansa Class Association.
Hansa sailboats are designed so that people with a disability or limited mobility and able-bodied people can compete with equal capacity.
The boats are weighted and fitted with flotation for stability and are steered using a joystick.
Practice races will take place on Friday afternoon with competitive racing in the four different Hansa classes scheduled to start from about 10am Saturday, wrapping up on Monday, 6 April.
Chris Mitchell, the Australian designer of the Hansa sailboat which is now used world-wide, will attend the event.
The Tasmanian Government, through Communities, Sport and Recreation Tasmania, has provided $7,540 in grant funding to the Derwent Sailing Squadron to upgrade access facilities and $2,000 to Sailability Tasmania in preparation for hosting the National Championships.
I welcome the 70 interstate competitors and their support teams to Tasmania and wish all athletes the best of luck for their races.
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