qpsa 1 Marina Crescent, Hollywell, Queensland 4216

Welcome to QPSA, the Queensland Para Sailing Academy, located at Hollywell, Marina Crescent, 1. As an establishment and point of interest, we offer a unique opportunity for individuals of all abilities to experience the thrill of high-performance competitive sailing.

Our institution is proud to host the first race of the BRASS MONKEY series 13/14, featuring former Paralympic Class SKUD 18 sports boats. These boats are specifically designed to enable maximum performance and safety in open water regattas. Regardless of your ability, our sailing technology ensures that every racer has an equal chance in competition.

At QPSA, we believe that sailing should be accessible to everyone. That's why our SKUD 18 teams are made up of one disabled skipper and one non-disabled sailor, competing across mixed and non-mixed inshore division fleet racing. Our Wednesday twilight races are particularly exciting, with up to 30 boats battling it out for the coveted bottle of rum.

We are also proud to offer a new opportunity for disabled sailors in Queensland. With paralympic sailing recently dropped from the program for the 2020 Tokyo games, the World Sailing Federation has initiated development programs worldwide to boost the number of countries with sailing programs. The QPSA has been formed to ensure that Queenslanders are well represented should sailing be reinstated for Paris 2024.

Currently, there are limited opportunities for people with disabilities to become involved in high-performance competitive sailing in Queensland. That's where QPSA comes in. Our institution, in partnership with Sailability Gold Coast and Southport Yacht Club (SYC), provides a pathway for participants to receive coaching and access to equipment, allowing them to progress from novice to national level contenders. Our ultimate goal is to prepare participants for the Australian squad when accessible sailing becomes mainstream again.

By partnering with Sailability, QPSA participants have the opportunity to qualify for high-performance SKUD 18 sailing through boat handling skills verification using smaller dinghies at Gold Coast Sailability. They are also encouraged to become volunteer members of Sailability and undergo their established sail training program. Once proficiency is achieved, sailors can easily transition into QPSA's elite training program.

In addition to our SKUD 18 fleet, we also offer mixed fleet racing, where our boats can compete against various Australian trailer boat classes, including Blazer, Etchells, Elliot, RL, 1/4 Tonner, Melges, Flying Fifteen, and many more. Off the beach dinghies are also available for SKUD racing, for those who enjoy the thrill of dinghy sailing in a variety of mixed fleet races.

Led by Ross Manning, the Australian SKUD National Champion in 2018 and 2019, our team at QPSA is dedicated to providing exceptional sailing experiences and opportunities. If you have any questions about our sailing programs or how we can match your sailing needs, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Send us a message, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.