October 6, 2025

• US Para Sailing Championship in San Diego
• and Two October Races
• Collegiate Adaptive Sailing Program
• Martin 16 Refurbish Project
• Capital Campaign
• New Board Member
• Elections - Calling All Volunteers
• Meet Our Sailors
• Coastal Cleanup
• Award in Montreal
• Come Sail with Challenged Sailors
• Keep our Sailors Smiling!

Read about this and other big news from Challenged Sailors San Diego, providing FREE SAILING for those living with disabilities.

From September 25 - 28 our nine Martin 16s raced on South Bay and Glorietta Bay in US Sailing's Para Sailing Championship hosted by Coronado Yacht Club - a rare visit to the West Coast. Between the Martins and the seven Hansa 303s (supplied by the KMAC Foundation and BAADS) racers came from across the US, from Hawaii to Connecticut, all over California, as well as Canada and Argentina. Our 9 Martins raced with 4 sailors using the Power Assist Units (PAU) - two of whom made the podium.

In the Martin 16 Fleet winners were 1st place Michael Lung with Scott Kolb, 2nd place Jane Pimentel with Jessica Koenig, 3rd place Eddie Lewis with Steve Bridge from Challenged Sailors. Congratulations Eddie and Steve! Click here for full results.

Thanks to the amazing work of our Maintenance Team, especially Gary and Craig, the Martins were as identical in performance as they've ever been!

Looking ahead - Boats are Limited - Sign Up to Race Now!:

• The Point Loma Yacht Club Charity Bay Race benefiting Challenged Sailors will be held on Saturday, October 11 at 12 noon with food, drink and silent auction to follow (about 2:30) at the Sunroad Marina Pavilion. To race Let us know if you want to race with a Martin16 and register on Regatta Network.
• The Cortez Racing Association Halloween Regatta Saturday, October 25with Costume Contest at the Post-Race event. To race Let us know if you want to race with a Martin16 and register on Regatta Network (should be posted soon).

Thanks to the efforts of Morgan Wright, Challenged Sailors is spearheading an exciting new initiative to develop what could become the first collegiate adaptive sailing programs in the United States. The effort brings together the San Diego State University Aztecs Sailing Team and the UC San Diego Tritons Sailing Team in a groundbreaking collaboration focused on inclusion, teamwork, and access to the sport of sailing.

In recent months, members of both the Aztecs and Tritons Sailing teams have joined CSSD on the water, sailing alongside adaptive athletes and volunteering at several events—including the California Coastal Cleanup Day. Their participation marks a key first step toward building a sustainable program that connects collegiate sailors with adaptive sailing opportunities.

The initiative has also drawn support from representatives of US Sailing and World Sailing, who recognize the program’s potential to become a national and international model for inclusive collegiate athletics.

Looking ahead, CSSD plans to engage current adaptive athletes in team-based sailing events with the students—offering a fun, social way to explore the sport together and deepen community ties. The long-term goal is to establish permanent adaptive sailing programs at both campuses, creating a blueprint for expanding adaptive sports at the collegiate level.

Photos below: Top - SDSU Sailing Team with Challenged Sailors;

Bottom - UCSD Sailing Team with Challenged Sailors

In December of last year, the Board of Directors decided to investigate refurbishing our fleet of Martin 16s as opposed to purchasing new sailboats. We contacted three local boatyards and were able to obtain bids from two. Infinity Yacht Services in National City was selected based on their detailed plan to get the boats “looking like new”. This project is currently underway with the first Martin nearly finished. It looks fabulous and was far enough along to be able to race in the Para Sailing Championship!

The restoration involves removing all the hardware and rigging prior to performing fiberglass repairs and repainting. The keel plates on the hull side and top of the keel will be removed and replaced. The joysticks will be refurbished. All the rudders and rudder heads will be replaced. Each boat will take about a month, and we will do one at a time to keep our fleet as functional as possible. Our CSSD maintenance team has already replaced the running rigging and removed rust staining on the remaining boats. Obviously, this project will take some time, but we will end up with a fleet of Martins we can be proud of. And, at considerably less cost than new!

Every bit counts as Challenged Sailors is in the second of a 3-year capital campaign to raise $400,000 to REFURBISH its full fleet of Martin 16s, purchase a new sailboat, well-suited for family members and friends of our sailors, and replace our 1962 Boston Whaler motorboat.

We are aiming by the end of 2026 to have the funds necessary to complete the overhaul of our Martins to like-new condition, and purchase the two new (used) boats. Every dollar from every donation goes direct to keeping wind in our sails and smiles on the faces of our adaptive sailors and volunteers. This is how we keep sailing free. Consider making a gift!

Please welcome Ryan Sullivan as our new Director overseeing all Marketing and Communications.

Ryan grew up in San Diego and first learned to sail on FJs on nearby Mission Bay. Over the years, he has sailed a wide range of small boats, from J22s to 505s. In 2023, Ryan discovered Challenged Sailors and was immediately drawn to its mission of opening San Diego’s waters to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Since then, he has volunteered both as a companion sailor and as the organization’s technology lead, helping more people experience the joy of sailing.

Photo (l to r): Ryan Sullivan, Peter, Jamie Anderson, Paul Farrell, DVM

Our powerhouse Board keeps our sails full and our mission on course! Their strategic vision, financial expertise, and community connections ensure Challenged Sailors San Diego delivers smooth sailing and nonstop adventure all year long.

Each year Challenged Sailors replaces four of our eight members of our Board of Directors, who will each serve a two year term. And at the end of next year, we replace the other four for two years. This maintains continuity and institutional knowledge.

This year the positions that will be opening up include:

• President (to be filled by our VP, Steve Bridge, MD)
• Vice President
• Director of Outreach, and
• Director of Volunteers

Of course, it takes many volunteers to keep Challenged Sailors sailing along smoothly, we're also in need of committee members on Teams including:

• Boat Maintenance
• Community Outreach
• Grants
• MarComm
• Safety

What skills and talents do you have that can help us continue to be the best that we can be? If you're interested in being considered for, or want to learn more about, a position just email Peter Phillips, or call me at 619-340-9555.

Challenged Sailors recently interviewed Steve Muse, winner of the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship with Ryan Porteous in 2015, hosted by the Southwestern Yacht Club.

Tell us a little about your background, how you became disabled and describe your disability and physical challenges:

“I was injured in a car accident 4/4/2004 and now I’m an incomplete quadriplegic. I need assistance transferring into the boats, but I can drive and trim the sails on my own”

How did you find Challenged Sailors?

“I was given the website by my brother-in-law who thought I might like to learn to sail.”

Had you sailed previously and, if so, in what capacity?

“I had no experience sailing. I was a big wall rock climber, ice climber and mountain biker among other outdoor activities. I poo-poohed the idea of sailing, thinking it too slow and boring for the likes of me. Boy was I wrong! From the first time on the water, I was hooked. Captain Mike Swall was my companion, and I sure miss that old f- - t!”

What do you enjoy most about sailing with CSSD?

“The chance to enjoy racing with others in my predicament”

How is it having your wife as your sailing companion? Do you ever sail with anyone else and, if so, how does that work out?

“There are limited activities that I can share with my wife. Sailing allows us to race together on San Diego Bay. It’s awesome to sail together side-by-side in competitions. Jennifer is more than just a companion, she is my ocean. I am so grateful to be able to swim in her ocean from time to time.”

“I don’t sail with anybody else when sailing in the Martin 16s. I prefer to sail them solo because it gives me the excitement I felt when climbing a big wall. I can still scare myself in the horizontal plane as much as I did in the vertical”

If you could change something about being on the water, what would it be?

“What is there to change? We live in San Diego and can sail year-round. America’s Finest City!”

Photos (l to r): Jennifer Muse, Steve Muse

On September 20, CSSD took part in the Coastal Cleanup initiative sponsored by I Love a Clean San Diego. The SDSU Sailing Team joined in volunteer for the event. Prior to our regular Saturday sail, our Director of Volunteers, Fritha Matus, spoke to us about the Cleanup and encouraged us to collect as much trash as possible. We got our nets. Our trash bags. Gloves. It was a blustery day, which made it a challenge to go after items floating in the water, but Peter Phillips, and his companion Hari Rajagopalan, hauled in over 20 pounds of flotsam and won the annual Trash Cup award!

Last month President Peter Phillips and Steve Muse raced Martin 16s in the Mobility Cup (for sailors with disabilities) out of the Pointe Claire Yacht Club in Montreal, Canada. While Peter finished 9th out of 17 with some stiff breezes and similar competition, he brought home the Darren Tucker Sportsmanship Trophy – the first time it’s ever left Canada.

Photo (l to r): Francis Scarpaleggia, Canadian Speaker of the House of Commons, Peter, Paula Stone, Vice President of AQVA (Quebec Adapted Sailing Association)

For those living with disabilities: MS, CP, TBI, quadri- or paraplegia, 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.

Honor the mission with a contribution that enables us to continue delivering the creation 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.