National Paralympic Day celebrated in Poole

Schoolchildren celebrate National Paralympic Day with Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas © Mike Millard

It was all smiles as local schoolchildren celebrated National Paralympic Day by sailing with London 2012 Paralympic gold medallist, Helena Lucas, at the Poole Yacht Club today (Saturday 7 September).

A total of 10 invited youngsters from Montacute Special School in Poole and St Catherine's Primary School in Wimborne enjoyed an hour's taster session in beautiful sunshine on Poole Harbour with Rockley Watersports, in conjunction with RYA Sailability and the 2013 2.4mR World Championships.

Helena, who made history by becoming the first female Paralympic gold medallist in the 2.4mR class, is one of the British sailing stars competing at 2013 2.4mR World Championships being hosted at Poole YC this week, and as well as enjoying time afloat with the youngsters, she spent time answering their questions while they also got the chance to see and hold the London 2012 gold medal she won exactly one year ago.

Helena said: "The Paralympics have really inspired people to get out on the water, it's fantastic a year on to see how a year on the British public is still embracing the Paralympic Games and attitudes to disability have just completely changed. Whenever there's an opportunity to do a day like today and get involved and promote sport I want to. I thoroughly enjoy doing it and I want people to experience what I've experienced from doing sport."

Maddy Deary, 10, from Wimborne, said: "We went sailing with Helena Lucas and it was amazing to be standing next to a Paralympian and get to hold her medal. Sailing was fun but it was quite hard when you were steering because when you pushed one way the boat went the other way!"

Matthew Stone, 10, from Ferndown, added: "The medal was extremely heavy and it had braile on the side of it. I'd definitely go sailing again."

Debbie Blachford, RYA Sailability Manager, said: "Inclusive sport is so important. A lot of people do start sailing with a Sailability group but it's all about the ability to go further than that and to get into competition and inclusive club life, while there are also opportunities for the whole family to get into sailing too."

Rockley Watersports, which is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of safety and quality, is kindly providing the boats and instructors to get the youngsters out on the water on National Paralympic Day.

With the event tagline 'Where everyone is equal', racing at the 2013 International 2.4mR World Championships takes place over four days from Tuesday 10 – Friday 13 September. For more details about the 2013 International 2.4mR Class World Championships visit www.24mworlds2013.co.uk or follow @24mRWorlds2013 on Twitter.

For more information on RYA Sailability visit www.rya.org.uk/sailability