The Sonar is a 23-foot one-design keelboat that showcased disabled sailing at the 1996 Paralympic Games, where the sport was a demonstration event. The Sonar has been the three-person keelboat at every subsequent Paralympics. In para sailing mode it is sailed by a crew of three, without a spinnaker, using a whisker pole with the jib. The Sonar is well-suited for disabled sailing because of its large open cockpit, making adaptations relatively easy. Read more on Wikipedia
RondarBoats.com: Current Sonar builder Rondar
Sonar.org: Sonar Class Association
Steering Adaptations
Sonar: Joystick/Sip ‘n’ Puff Steering
This actuator-driven system was developed by Gene Hinkel and Steve Alvey for Y-Knot Sailing. The first version of this system required a plate to be installed on the side rear of the cockpit to attach the actuator. With this system, the helmsperson is in front of the traveler, and we ...
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Seating Adaptations
Sonar: Gimbaled Mid-Boat Seat
This seat puts the quadriplegic sailor in front of the traveler, in seat that is fixed in the center of the boat, but can rotate around a cylinder in the base to keep the skipper upright when the boat heels. The seat is mounted on a large board that drops ...
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Sonar: Sliding Mid-Boat Seat
For sailors using an autohelm (joystick or sip 'n' puff steering), positioning the driver forward of the traveler removes the seat from the path of the actuator-driven tiller, and has the additional benefit of moving the weight of the driver and seat closer to the center of the boat. In ...
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Other Sonar Adaptations
Sonar: Stability Bars
Stainless steel grab bars can be added at various points along the cockpit to provide sailors with a secure hold ...
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