Matt Debicki
PRESIDENT

Matt spent ten years as a professional sailor working on tall ships, multihulls and monohulls including 3 years working aboard Inventure, a 60 foot power wheelchair accessible trimaran. During his time as captain of Inventure he had the great fortune to work with Hillary Lister, training her for her record setting English channel crossing while at the same time modifying a 26 foot Olympic class Soling so that she could sail it solo with sip-and-puff controls. Matt is now based in Newfoundland and helping develop Canada’s eastern-most accessible sailing outpost.

Margaret Tibbo
DIRECTOR

Margaret “Muggs” Tibbo Retired from The Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre where she was a Recreation Specialist/Clinical Leader for 37 years in the Rehab Division. Muggs has been active in creating opportunities for young people to be active in a number recreation and sports, laying the foundation for the start-up of several organizations that provide those opportunities, including various para-sports, para skiing, athletics, wheelchair basketball, swimming, boccia and now sailing. She also served as Manager of the Canadian Para Nordic Ski Team at Paralympic and Para-World games and is a certified coach, instructor and referee for several sports. In 2018 Margaret was Inducted into the NL Provincial Volunteer Hall of Fame.

Jen d’Eon
DIRECTOR

Jen has been coaching sailing since 2010 and has a Master of Gender Studies with a focus area in disability studies and assistive technology. Able Sail NL combines her love for sailing while striving for better accessibility.

Hayley Redmond
DIRECTOR

Hayley Redmond started sailing the Martin 16 in 2016, when she travelled to Ottawa to represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the Mobility Cup, an international regatta featuring sailors from Canada and the United States. She is an active Director of Able Sail NL and a leader in making the sport of sailing available to persons with disabilities. Hayley, along with Matt Debicki, President of Able Sail NL recently accepted the 2022 Independent Living Award for Social Inclusion at Government House in St. John’s.

Rick Austin
DIRECTOR

Boating buff and shutterbug Rick brings a love of sailing and years of experience as care giver and access facilitator to his disabled brother. Graphic designer by trade he is also a competent web site programmer and video editor.