Jamie Dunross's paralympic campaign has been very intensive with. Jamie and his crew having undertaken rigorous training throughout the Australian summer and winter, and having to go overseas at least twice in the past 9 months to gain selection for the Athens games. It is understood that a new Sonar has been purchased for Athens to be called Noel Robbins after prominent Perth yachtsman and Sydney - Sonar - gold medallist, Noel, who was killed in a car accident earlier this year. Jamie had been a member of Noel's Sydney 2000 crew. The Noel Robbins was built in the UK for the Royal Perth Yacht Club disabled sailing group - known as Sailability. The yacht was shipped directly to Athens for Jamie's campaign.

On a related matter, RPYC will be hosting the World Disabled Sailing Championships in March 2006. Before then there will be a significant rebuilding program for the Crawley marina, including new floating docks to accommodate the visiting fleet and of course as new permanent mooring facilities for club members. The rules for disabled sailing for the 3 person Sonar are complex but provide for the crew to be classified as to their individual level of disability. "The most disabled are classed '1' and the least - class '7'". The system, designed for sailing, places emphasis on upper body dexterity. In this context "Jamie, a quadriplegic, is class 1, Jeff who lost his foot is class7 and Colin, an arm amputee, a 4. The sum of the crew's classifications must be no greater than 13.

In the meantime the Spirit of Rockingham awaits Jamie's return - successful again we hope. We wish them well.

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