October 30, 2024

It’s time for another scintillating read full of good news and wonderful tidbits regarding your adaptive sailing program that hits the water EVERY WEEKEND with 100% FREE sailing for those living with disabilities. Adaptive sailors, volunteers, donors and organizational partners – READ ON! Lots of dynamite updates, stories and announcements in this latest quarterly newsletter installment…

Just when you thought both San Diego Magazine and San Diego Union feature articles would be enough media hype for one calendar year…there’s more! Let your eyes feast on the glory that is haloed ground – San Diego State University. Peter Phillips, our president who has been the heart and soul leader of Challenged Sailors for many years, was singled by the SDSU press with a major story showcasing Peter’s commitment to serving those with disabilities. Thanks to the Aztecs and Bryana Quintana for providing such a moving reminder about what we gain when we serve others.

Were you racing with us at the Point Loma Yacht Club annual charity regatta to benefit Challenged Sailors? The Peninsula Beacon sent a photographer before Kylie Capuano wrote a lovely cover piece. The Point Loma Yacht Club Charity Bay Race and Fundraiser in support of our organization was a big success. Thanks to all who contributed. It's not too late to show your support - https://www.challengedsailors.org/GIVE

But if you’re not into reading about Challenged Sailors then LISTEN. Around The County dedicated an entire episode of its long-running popular show on us. The audio interview gives a nice little history of our org plus makes a case for why volunteering with us is more fun than Comic-Con. This far in 2024, partly due to positive press publicity, our general base of engaged participants has grown 33%. This calendar year we continue to average over 1 new person a day getting in touch and saying they want to be involved. That's the power of positivity wrapped around our combined sailing, service and support cause.

We received from our new organizational partner Holland America a generous financial contribution in honor of Holland launching new routes out of the Port of San Diego. Stephen Bridge, Eric Brand, Valenzuela Teresa, Craig Dennis, Penny Anders and Nancy Beckley went aboard to accept a fabulous donation and enjoy some hospitality. As you know, we have no paid staff. All $$ received goes direct to serving those living with disabilities. https://www.challengedsailors.org/GIVE Much appreciation to Adrienne Carter for helping to coordinate the donation event. Holland, come sailing with us next time you have a day off the high seas!

Jordan recently visited Challenged Sailors San Diego from Scotland. After spending time aboard and afloat with us, Jordan provided the following inspirational note... "I have to tell you that you have changed how I accept my disability. The Challenged Sailors program has helped me see it's (OKAY) to have a disability and or be in a wheelchair. All of my life I have resisted any sort of program involving disability for the very reason that back in the UK, the predominant attitude of people think you are in a wheelchair you must be dumb!!! Getting to know the whole crew has been an absolute pleasure. Especially working with Craig, the first time we set off on my first trip out we just hit it off after I was very close to canceling on the morning of the sail. I have found a lot of the companion sailors have the same hobbies and interests that I do so we get on great. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone at CSSD for making me feel so welcome it's been awesome!!!"

On September 21 we took part in the Coastal Cleanup initiative sponsored by I Love a Clean San Diego. Thanks to leadership from Vivian Matuk and our friends at California State Parks and California Coastal Commission. We got our nets. Our trash bags. Gloves. While sailing on the bay we do our part to keep the CA coast clean and free of refuse and debris.

Earlier this year, our cherished friends at California Inclusive Sailing Newport Beach donated to Challenged Sailors our latest adaptive craft – a new RS Venture. Our most sincere gratitude goes out to Christian Buhl who made this donation possible. Christian himself delivered the RS Venture to us by water, sailing it direct into our slip at Harbor Island. We are so fortunate to be able to use our fleets of 8 Martin 16, RS Venture and SKUD. It’s a growing world and we need functioning, floating inventory to handle all the demand.

We recently hosted a special day on the water with Sue Taetzsch having invited hearing impaired friends. With the help of an ASL interpreter everyone was ready for fun. For those living with disabilities: MS, CP, TBI, quadra/para, down syndrome, hearing impaired...we are YOUR program that sails EVERY WEEKEND to get you 100% FREE on the water with special adaptive boats. Safe and fun. No experience necessary. You on a sailboat is just a click away. If you've been gone from our docks for a while then there’s never a better time to come back.

Respond to get scheduled with us in November! When you get scheduled to sail you're going beyond our local waters to access an entire community dedicated to serving everyone who wants to belong. Get involved with upcoming Challenged Sailors adaptive and volunteer events. Fri Nov 1 – regular sailing Sat Nov 2 - New Volunteer Orientation and regular sailing Fri Nov 8 and Sat Nov 9 – regular sailing Fri Nov 15 and Sat Nov 16 – regular sailing Fri Nov 22 and Sat Nov 23 – regular sailing Let us know.

How many of us are CPR certified? AED? We’d like to know! Take a quick survey - CLICK HERE.

Honor the mission with a contribution that enables us to continue delivering the creating of bonds through shared experiences of generosity and compassion. Especially with Giving Tuesday just around the proverbial donation corner… This is San Diego and #WeSailEveryWeekend. Our program exists through the generosity of people in our community. Please consider making a donation to help us continuously achieve our mission. Every weekend.