Winds of Joy
The Winds of Joy program provides a unique opportunity for young people with disability to sail a large racing yacht
More information
Winds of Change
School students spend eight weeks actively progressing from observation to guided practice to independent control of a large sailing yacht.
More Information
Wright of Passage
Wright of Passage, school students spend two days per week on the dock learning maritime trade skills
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Winds of Inspiration
Opportunities for people to challenge themselves and continue building their sailing skills further than any of our other programs.
More Information
Winds of Care
The Winds of Care program offers half a day of respite, relaxation, networking, and celebration of the invaluable care that they provide
More information
Winds of Joy
Winds of Change
Wright of Passage
Winds of Inspiration

Winds of Joy

Extraordinary experiences for extraordinary young people
The Winds of Joy Program

Big, exciting & safe.

Provides a unique opportunity for young people with disability

The Winds of Joy program provides a unique opportunity for young people with disability to sail a large racing yacht that has been modified to ensure easy accessibility and accommodate wheelchair users.

Make a booking

Program Overview

The Winds of Joy is an inclusive, safe space, designed to give young people with disabilities an empowering and uplifting experience on the water. Participants are supported by skilled volunteer sailors, who will give students the opportunity to have hands-on experience with a large high performance yacht, specially fitted to accommodate wheelchairs.

We currently have permanent ports in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Geelong, and Brisbane that operate on  various weekdays depending on location.

We also visit ports in Queensland, which can include Southport and Mackay. Other ports can also be visited. Please check our calendar.

We operate during school terms 1, 2, and 4. Brisbane operates year-round during school terms.

The Northern Campaign operates once per year during August and September.

The numbers allowed on each boat depends on your location
Brisbane 8 guests 2 wheelchairs
Geelong 15 guests 2 wheelchairs
Newcastle 13 guests 2 wheelchairs
Sydney 15 guests 4 wheelchairs
(maximum of 2 if electric)
Melbourne 15 guests 4 wheelchairs

On the larger yachts we do not sail with less than 8 guests.
In Brisbane we do not sail with less than 5 guests.

The Tribe (Brisbane) has 3:1 student/carer ratio.
All other boats have 4:1 Student/carer ratio.

The youngest guest we will take is 7.

We offer 2-hour slots, one in the morning at 10:00-12:00 and one in the afternoon at 12:30-2:30. Sailing is usually 1.5 hours in duration.

Due to limitations of the boat’s toilet, please allow enough time for students to toilet prior to joining the boat. After you secure your booking, we provide information on where accessible toilets are available nearby.

A crew member will meet your group at the entrance to the marina or pier and direct the group to the boat. More information is available in the Contact page of the website.

Support from generous donors and Government grants enable us to provide our programs free of charge to schools and students

This program has been designed for young people with disability or those experiencing disadvantages to attend with their school as a group.

Guests should wear comfortable clothing and closed toes shoes. We suggest you bring a jumper, secure wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen.

There is no food to be consumed on the boat unless required for medical reasons. Please bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

Your skipper will call the nominated contact before the sail if they have any concerns over the sailing conditions.

Contact your skipper with the number you have been provided with or call the office at 0421-725-170.

Yes we do.

The program gives young people with a disability the opportunity to feel nature’s Winds of Joy blow over them. They can engage with crew who are mentors and role models, some with a disability themselves.

Yacht in a Box

The fun and interactive game Yacht in a Box is free to schools participating in this program. Follow the instructions or invent your own for your school curriculum.

Go to the Yacht in a Box Course

All schools that have booked a program sail with us should receive a Yacht in A Box Game. If you have booked a sail and not received a game, please send us an email at info@makingwaves.au to get yours delivered.

Learn some science, the natural environment, maths, and indigenous culture while playing. Students can use the knowledge they get from playing Yacht in a Box when they come abord for a Winds of Joy sail.

Within the structured framework students actively participate in the learning process, moving from observation to guided practice, then independence. Each week they make decisions, with guidance from teachers and the Making Waves Foundation crew, about their growth journeys.

This game is part of Making Waves Foundation’s sailing programs. It helps students prepare to sail with us and is a fun way to explore the nautical environment.

Yacht in a Box is a board game that can be set up on the classroom floor. It is designed to help orient students to sailing with elements incorporating science, the natural environment, maths, and indigenous culture. The game comes with simple instructions; however, it won’t be long before you can start making up your own Yacht in a Box challenges.

Winds of Change

School students spend eight weeks actively progressing from observation to guided practice to independent control of a large sailing yacht.

Winds of Change

Young Adult Empowerment Opportunity

The Winds of Change program supports young people who would benefit from targeted opportunities to develop the confidence, optimism, knowledge and social skills to unlock their potential.

Program Overview

Delivered 1 day per week over 8 weeks within a safe and inclusive group environment, 8 to 10 carefully chosen participants are brought together into a team who eventually learn to sail a racing yacht with little or no assistance. The participants actively engage in the learning process, moving from observation to guided practice, then independence. Each week they make decisions about their individual journeys of growth, with support as needed from teachers and the Making Waves crew.

Our specially trained volunteer crew work collaboratively with teachers to ensure that each Winds of Change session addresses the needs of the participants. Activities are strategically selected and facilitated to challenge participants, imbue them with a sense of achievement and promote growth in personal attributes that have been identified for support. Our role models create a fun, energetic, respectful context within a challenging adventurous setting, encouraging participants to work well with their peers, take appropriate risks and engage positively with adults.

Participants will:

  • Benefit from a positive, enriching, and exciting experience in which they acquire sailing knowledge and skills.
  • Find and practice ways to work within a team, accommodating their differing abilities and attitudes, to sail a racing yacht safely and effectively.
  • Be immersed and supported in an adventurous environment that elevates their willingness to accept feedback and embrace new perspectives and approaches.
  • Receive positive, respectfully shared feedback about their participation.
  • Have opportunities to identify and then apply more positive attitudes, choices and behaviours.
  • Have the opportunity to experience nature in a unique way – through active participation with peers sailing a racing yacht.

Winds of Inspiration

Opportunities for people to challenge themselves and continue building their sailing skills further than any of our other programs.

Winds of Inspiration

Enhancing Skill Development Through Offshore Racing

The Making Waves Foundation, formerly Sailors with Disabilities, was formed in 2024 following David Pescud’s initiative to compete in the 50th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with the first crew of people with disability to sail in an ocean race. Making Waves has continued to challenge perceptions concerning the capability and tenacity of disabled Australians through our sail racing program, Winds of Inspiration. 

The Winds of Inspiration Program provides opportunities for Australians experiencing disability or disadvantage to challenge themselves. It also provides opportunities for Making Waves volunteers to enhance their sailing experience further than our other programs allow. Winds of Inspiration incentivises our members to aim higher, gain a renewed sense of self and achievement, and discover additional coping mechanisms within the shared experience of sailing at a higher level.”

Click here to read the Winds of Inspiration guidelines

View Our Racing Achievements

Racing Achievemants

1996 - 2020
Click to View

Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Check out the impact of the race on the crew and lives of people living with disabilty and disadvantage.

Follow the Race

Crew stories

Tracey Gottliebsen

Feeling Nice

Winds of Joy Volunteer

Al Grundy

Rough Ride

Polio Survivor

David Preston

Still Smiling

Born with Cerebral palsy

Ian Farquarson

Faith in Kindness

Sponsor

Alyson Gearing

Land Ahoy

Hearing loss

John Whitfeld 

Paying it Forward

30th Sydney to Hobart

James Hunter

Digging Deep

Recently Blind 

Maddie Lyons

Feeling Sea Sick

New generation aboard

David Rieser

So Grateful

Disability Dystonia

Siang Beh

Empowering Others

 Spiderman

Winds of Care

The Winds of Care

A Chance to Take a Break

By providing unpaid care for the valued people in their lives with disability, mental illness, chronic conditions, terminal illness and more, carers are an integral part of the health system and the foundation for disability, aged and community care networks. 

It’s a big job with small rewards, and the importance of the role deserves acknowledgement and at times, respite. Making Waves Winds of Care program offers these dedicated, devoted individuals an opportunity to receive some rest from their busy, day-to-day lives by coming sailing.

The Winds of Care program offers half a day of respite, relaxation, networking, and celebration of the invaluable care that they provide. It is offered as a 2-3 hour sail on Sydney Harbour on a Saturday or Sunday. The time is negotiable and subject to availability. Please get in touch with the Sydney office to find out if your community group can join.