As part of the SCYA Midwinter regatta Coronado Yacht Club hosted Challenged Sailors San Diego on February 8th. They have 8 Martin 16 sailboats specifically designed for adaptive sailing. The facilities are accessible and equipped with a lift for transferring sailors from wheelchairs into the boat.
SCYA Director Peter Phillips was signed up to race as one of these “handicapped” sailors, but sprained an ankle and passed his boat to another sailor. People in these photos are quadriplegics, paraplegics, double amputees and legally blind.
The Commodore of Coronado Yacht Club, Scott Grimes, commented in the awards ceremony, the only disabled sailor he saw in the race was a rental boat that he shoved away after hitting one of their boats at the dock to help them stay out of the way of the racers. None of the sailors in the race were “disabled” once behind the helm.
To learn more about to program please see www.challengedsailors.org