Lindsay Mason, who has an eyesight disability, answered a call from Narooma quadriplegic sailor Amethyst Barnbrook (pictured at right) after her previous crew was unable to sail in the 2008 Skud 18 World Disabled Championships in Singapore.

The Skud 18 is a two-person 18ft keelboat designed by Australian Julian Bethwaite, which has been selected as a two-person boat for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Amethyst was born with phocoamelia, a condition that manifests itself by the absence of limbs. She uses a servo-controlled mechanism designed by Chris Mitchell of Access Dinghies to steer the boat.

With the vessel already in Singapore, the pair had only two days practise together on Sydney Harbour in a similar boat before flying to Singapore for the 11-race event.

Sailing was conducted over four days, with mostly three races a day in light winds and 30-plus degree temperatures.

Their results included one first, two seconds and three thirds, to finish behind Singapore, China and Portugal, but ahead of Ireland, Great Britain, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Mason, with his crew, Cronulla sailor Daniel McLachlan, also won the MG14 NSW State Championships in his boat Water Rat.