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

Raye has always loved the ocean, loved the waves, loved the wildlife. As all sailors know, the ocean has a call that seeps into your being.

Raye came to Challenged Sailors as a stroke survivor. In 2015, he had a stroke that left him paralysed in his left leg, but also left him partially blind on the left side of both of his eyes. Before his stroke, he was an office manager for a fire sprinkler company. He, like many stroke survivors, retired right after the event.

Raye has a vivid memory of how he joined Challenged Sailors. He and his wife, Jennie, were celebrating their wedding anniversary on a Tuesday at the Bali Ha'i when our Peter Phillips (ever the Challenged Sailor recruiter and advocate) plunked himself down beside him and started talking to him about sailing. Had he ever been sailing? Did he like the water? Then Peter introduced Challenged Sailors, how we sail in these specially rigged boats. His wife Jennie said, "You have to do this," but he didn't need much convincing. That night they went home, signed all the waivers and sent Sue 'T' a request for a sail date. That Friday he was in a boat.

Raye lives in Escondido and doesn't drive, so getting to Challenged Sailors takes some effort. He takes the North County Transit bus to North County Escondido Mall. He then transfers to the MTS bus, which delivers him directly to the marina. Oftentimes he has to leave his home at 7:30 AM to ensure he makes dock time at 11:00.

Raye and his wife Jennie are aficionados of the Tiki scene in San Diego. It should not surprise anyone that Peter found him at the Bali Ha'i. He has quite a collection of Hawaiian shirts to match his interest. If you see him all decked out in a Hawaiian shirt at one of our events, now you know why.

Raye finished his first race last month with the Duck Derby. He and his partner Ron came in DFL (Dead Flat Last) after starting off to a strong second in the race. He rounded a mark, and the wind, their wind, just evaporated, and he had to sit there and watch the rest of the fleet plough past them. Such is racing. He had a blast, though, and is looking forward to his next race.

When John Franco is on the dock nearly every Saturday, you can be sure of several things. He will be smiling. He will be anticipating challenges. He will be unwaveringly helpful, and if there is anything funny to be had, you can be sure he will be laughing.

John Franco is a San Diego native, and he is most at home in our fine city. He, like most local boys growing up in the 1970's and 1980's, loved motorcycles and moto-X. You would find him and his posse running all over the undeveloped hills of San Diego with the whine of their engines echoing over the community.

He has always been an athlete, agile and confident, just like he is on the dock today. He loved baseball and wrestling, and by age nine he was a local wrestling champion.

After high school, he became a carpenter and continued for 32 years, bringing his can-do attitude to every job. Construction and carpentry are physically demanding jobs. After 32 years of hard work, his body said enough. He retired from the field he loved with spinal stenosis and hearing loss.

When a family member purchased a boat at Sunroad Marina in 2019 and he watched Challenged Sailors sail by, he wondered what it would be like to volunteer.

In 2021, he traded his dirt bike and lived full-time on a boat.

In a refrain you will hear from nearly every one of our volunteers, he is so grateful to be able to help people lead their best lives by being part of Challenged Sailors. There is a joy that comes from knowing you are making a difference in people's lives and by working alongside other fellow volunteers who are doing the same work for the same reason. There is joy in teamwork. When you get to know John or when he is catching your boat as you head to the dock, joy is the word you would use.

In 2023, Challenged Sailors San Diego formed a Strategic Plan Committee and engaged Avery Wilson, former Director of Strategic Planning for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, as our consultant. Together, we developed a five-year strategic plan and a playbook to guide our work. We began implementing that plan in 2024, and we are pleased to share several accomplishments.

- Strengthening communication and outreach: Our marketing team has enhanced the look and feel of the CSSD website while significantly expanding our social media presence. Our monthly newsletter and Outreach team are also helping us to communicate more effectively and to deepen engagement throughout the CSSD community and beyond.

- Expanding training and participation: We have improved and expanded our onboarding process, supported by a clearly defined training curriculum. As a result, we have seen significant growth in the number of Adaptive and Companion Sailors participating in our programs. Our boats are regularly filled on Fridays and Saturdays, and we have added Sunday training sessions.

- Creating more opportunities for families and friends: To increase our capacity and include more family members and friends on the water, we purchased a larger chase boat. This gives loved ones the opportunity to be out on the bay alongside our Adaptive Sailors. Looking ahead, we plan to add a larger sailboat so families and friends can sail together.

- Growing and refurbishing our fleet: Our fleet now includes ten Martin 16 sailboats. One at a time, we are refurbishing each boat so it looks and performs like new. Work will soon begin on our sixth boat, and we expect to complete the entire fleet by this time next year.

- Building financial support for the future: Our fundraising efforts have been highly effective in providing the resources needed to expand our programs and refurbish our fleet. Continued fundraising success will remain essential to every aspect of our strategic plan.

As we look to the future, we regularly review our strategic plan playbook to measure our progress and guide our next steps. As Past President Peter Phillips often says, “We have a plan, and we’re working the plan.”

Thank you to everyone whose time, generosity, and commitment help make Challenged Sailors San Diego a success. Together, we are creating more opportunities for people with disabilities—and their families and friends—to experience the freedom and joy of sailing.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Challenged Sailors Satisfaction Survey. We received 158 responses—an encouraging increase from 88 last year. While this represents a meaningful improvement, we hope to hear from an even larger share of the CSSD community in future surveys.

The results are overwhelmingly positive. Most respondents reported being very satisfied with their CSSD experience and said they would recommend the program to others. Participants also gave high marks to CSSD’s organization and management, registration and scheduling process, training and boat maintenance.

As in last year’s survey, Friday and Saturday were identified as the most preferred days for sailing and training, with Sunday a close third. When asked what additional services they would value most, respondents most often selected more training opportunities, additional sailing days, and more racing.

We are pleased to share that Sunday training sessions will continue. We will also begin incorporating low-key racing and race-training opportunities into our regular sailing days.

A recurring suggestion was the creation of an online scheduling portal. Sue Taetzsch does a superb job coordinating schedules, but the current system requires substantial manual effort. We are working with Sue to develop an online system that will make scheduling easier for her and more accessible and visible for everyone in the CSSD community.

Thank you again for sharing your feedback. Your input helps us continue improving the CSSD experience for all sailors, volunteers, and supporters.

Have you ever heard the term 'the first flush'?

It is a highly accurate but somewhat queasy term used by water quality scientists to describe the first rain in a basically dry climate. The 'first flush' is why the Coastal Clean-Up Day happens in September before our first winter rains.

The first flush happens with the first major rain of winter, when everything you see someone (else) drop on the ground for a year gets carried into the creeks and rivers and shortly arrives in the ocean. It is everything from brake and tire dust to pet waste to chewing gum, to chemicals sprayed on lawns to make them green, to trash, particularly plastic trash. Anything...

The water that arrives in the ocean as part of the first flush contains just about every nasty thing you can think of. Which is why the warning signs posted next to storm drains come out in the winter. Even seagull poop measurably contributes to contamination. (But those pesky critters are hard to control.) That water is dangerous with bacteria and just plain disgusting beyond that.

So what to do? It is hard to control tire and brake dust. It is easier to address some sources of bacteria in the water column by asking people to pick up and bag pet waste, which, BTW, is a petri dish for exceedingly harmful bacteria. It is easier to get trash off the street by requiring every jurisdiction to employ street sweepers on regular intervals.

As you have seen, if you have ever participated in Coastal Clean-Up Day, that still leaves a ton of trash, and a ton of plastic, which is also a perfect substrate for nasty bacteria to grow.

Challenged Sailors is committed to keeping our ocean and bay waters clean. As part of this commitment, we are asking our volunteers to turn out for the Annual Coastal Clean-Up Day on September 19th.

Data collected from this event feeds into the world’s largest database on marine debris. Join our efforts this year to be part of this global event!

This year, our countywide Coastal Cleanup Day will have around 100+ locations for volunteers to choose from, inland and coastal. Each site is hosted by a site captain (a specially trained volunteer) who will manage volunteers on site, properly dispose of the trash, and report back totals.

Registration opens on Sept 1. Please check this link to learn more and to register.

The Charity Bay Race is coming right up. Even if you are not racing, please come to the after-party and join the fun.

The Point Loma Yacht Club's 2026 Charity Bay Race features a fun day of racing on San Diego Bay, benefiting Challenged Sailors San Diego (CSSD). This special event celebrates the end of the Duck Derby season while raising funds to support CSSD's mission to provide free adaptive sailing opportunities that empower people with disabilities to experience the freedom, independence, and joy of sailing.

Duck Derby Season Pass holders and Martin 16 competitors from Challenged Sailors San Diego race free. Registration is $35 for all other competitors. The Notice of Race (NOR) and Sailing Instructions (SIs) will be published soon. Register for the race HERE.

Following the race, join us at Safe Harbor Sunroad for the awards ceremony and after-party. We'll be serving complimentary food, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages as we celebrate the day's winners and crown our 2026 Duck Derby Season Champions. The festivities will also include a silent auction featuring outstanding donated items and experiences, with all proceeds benefiting Challenged Sailors San Diego. Whether you're racing, volunteering, or simply joining us for the celebration, we hope you'll be part of this great day on the water in support of an incredible cause.

A Typical Challenged Sailor’s Friday

Two weeks before each month begins, Sue “T,” our Chief Executive Scheduler, sends two small missives into the world: one to sailors, one to volunteers, laying out sailing dates and the hands needed to make them happen. Folks answer the call.

On sail day, the boats are rigged and ready, and we slip out beneath the watchful eyes of the Chase Boat and Dock Support teams. They stand by for those who choose a shorter day, then wait patiently for the fleet’s return.

Special care goes into rigging the sip-and-puff power-assist unit (PAU), which often keeps the final boat at the dock a little longer. Still, soon, she’s on her way.

Each sailor and companion makes a partnership all their own…

And, much like the launch, the return is full of motion and purpose: catching boats as they drift slowly down the fairway, sails coming down, hulls rinsed clean, every needed detail logged.

Yet the day does not end there. On the patio after sailing, people linger for the chip box to appear, washed down with a cold drink or two, and stories of fun, courage, and courage.

…and then we do it all again Saturday, the next weekend, and the next—year-round.

Dropping the sails is not the end of our sailing day—it is really only the beginning.

We are starting a new series called the Visionaries. Why? Because Challenged Sailors did not have to exist. The entire adaptive sailing program in San Diego could have been lost if not for the visionary efforts of our founders.

When you first meet Jane Dunn down on the dock, you will be struck by several things: her curly blond hair, her smile, and if you take a moment longer, you will see intelligence, determination, but above all, kindness in her intensely blue eyes. Her story with Challenged Sailors began with a phone call.

“Hi, you don’t know me, but I’ve been told that you’re the person to call to help us start a new adaptive sailing program”. This life-changing phone call in the summer of 2014, started Jane on her ongoing adventure with Challenged Sailors San Diego.

Jane Dunn grew up in Massachusetts and learned to sail during summers on Cape Cod. In her mid-twenties, after a few years of teaching math and coaching track at a high school in New Hampshire, she decided it would be great to see the rest of the country. She packed her belongings in her car and asked a friend to join her on a zig-zag cross-country trip, ending up in San Diego. Jane obtained a new teaching job here, met her husband (Murray), raised a family, and continued to sail boats of all sizes with friends and family.

When she bought her 23-foot Sonar sailboat, she discovered that Sonars were also used extensively for adaptive sailing. With Jane’s experience as a teacher and a coach, and with her US Sailing instructor certification, it seemed like a natural transition when she started volunteering with the former adaptive sailing program, Challenged America. When that program ended and donated their eight boats into the custody of Sylvia and Mike Swall, Jane was one of the people tasked with developing the framework for the new sailing organization, Challenged Sailors San Diego.

Maria Arroyo, Kevin Wixom, and Jane, with valuable input from many others involved, set out to design a fun sailing program that followed safe procedures on the water, had appropriate training available, used well-maintained boats, and treated every person with kindness and respect. It was important that the adaptive sailors would be able to sail the boats themselves as their abilities allowed.

The group decided to provide sailing free-of-charge, which meant that CSSD would need to be an all-volunteer program to manage costs. CSSD started with the philosophy that everyone had special talents to share, and that both our volunteers and our sailors had skills that were essential to CSSD’s success. The huge amounts of time, hard work, and timely money donations from everyone involved during the first year of operations set the tone for the generosity and teamwork that is evident on our waterfront to this day.

Jane served as a board member for several years, including as President, and has been involved in dock operations, outreach, new boat searches, and most other committees over the years. The CSSD sailing program relies completely on well-trained volunteers, so an important part of Jane’s focus has always been on writing and implementing the volunteer training curriculum. All volunteers receive on-the-water training to hone their nautical skills and to learn the adaptive techniques needed to meet the needs of our sailors.

Although Jane no longer leads the training team, she still enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for sailing, whether in a Challenged Sailors boat, or racing on her own boat in Oceanside.

Her motto when racing sums up her feelings about being on the water… “If we’re not having fun, then we’re not doing it right”.

Who Wants to Race? Join CSSD’s New Racing Program!

In NASCAR, "rubbing is racing." But in sailing, avoiding contact is required by the rules, plus fiberglass doesn't bend!

In last month's newsletter, Challenged Sailors San Diego announced an exciting initiative to build a race training program. We are looking to create an educational pipeline for Adaptive Sailors, Companion Sailors, Chase Boat Drivers, and Regatta Support Staff to help our participants actively compete in regattas.

We are frequently asked if CSSD has a racing program. While we've participated informally in the past, this new program will formalize our education and training. CSSD has invested significant time, effort, and resources into rebuilding and maintaining our Martin 16 fleet. Our goal is to ensure we race these boats safely and enjoyably for years to come.

Program Focus Areas

1. Adaptive Sailors

Boat Setup: Learning the Martin 16 equipment and how to tune it.

The Rules: Training based on the World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing.

Expert Instruction: Monthly seminars led by world-class judges, alongside coaching from experienced sailors and racers.

Practice & Strategy: Dedicated starting-line practice, weather/wind/tide analysis, and learning to navigate Sailing Instructions and Notices of Race (NOR).

2. Companion Sailors

Boat equipment tuning, racing tactics, and World Sailing rules.

Power Assist Unit (PAU) and Spinnaker certifications.

Specialized training for adaptive sailor support.

3. Key Support Roles

Chase/Mark-Set Boat Operations

Regatta Race Committee and Officials

Race Management: Managing CSSD’s participation in existing regattas and hosting new events.

Running a successful racing program takes a skilled, dedicated team. If you are interested in participating—whether on the water or as part of our support crew—please reach out!

Contact: Daniel Willan

Email: Daniel.Willan@challengedsailors.org

Phone/Text: 858-373-7023

Friday and Saturday Sailing 955 Harbor Island Dr Dock D, San Diego (Safe Harbor Sun Road Marina)

SAILING DAYS

If you have signed up with Challenged Sailors then you can reserve a sailing spot as an adaptive sailor, companion sailor or dock support.

Please email Sue T.

Friday Sept 4th 11:30 to 3 PM

Saturday, Sept 5th 11:30 to 3 PM

Friday, Sept 11th, 11:30 to 3 PM

Saturday, Sept 12th 11:30 to 3 PM

Friday, Sept 18st 11:30 to 3 PM

Saturday, Sept 19th 11:30 to 3 PM

Friday, Sept 25 11:30 to 3 PM

Saturday, Sept 26 NO Regular SAILING. Put on your Challenged Sailor togs and come to the after-party if you are not racing.

MORE FUN STUFF - Mark your calendars

Sept 26 - Charity Bay Race - Sponsored by Point Loma Yacht Club.

Sept. 19 Coastal Cleanup Day, sponsored by I Love a Clean San Diego Register here on or after Sept 1

October 24 Halloween Regatta

December 12 Year End Regatta

Board Meeting. August 17th, 5 PM to 6:30. The meeting is remote. To get the login please contact Morgan.

Spinnaker Sunday Training on spinnakers (and any of the other skills we teach). The schedule is ad hoc. If you are interested in participating, please contact our Training Lead, Dale.

It’s hard to believe summer is already winding down. As we approach Labor Day, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary effort behind our “summer rush.” Much of this work happens quietly, but its impact is felt every time we launch a full fleet – which has been happening pretty much every Friday and Saturday.

That effort begins with training—welcoming and preparing new dock supporters, companion sailors, and chase boat operators. Thank you to Dale Burchby for leading the development of a comprehensive curriculum and building a dedicated training team.

Our busy sailing schedule is made possible by Sue Tzaetsch, whose skillful coordination keeps everything running smoothly despite constant changes. Thank you, Sue, for working your magic week after week.

And of course, none of this would be possible without our Maintenance Team. Their steady commitment—week after week—keeps our boats safe and ready to sail. Thank you to Gary Lee, Craig Dennis, Ron Schiffer, and Ben Haymond for your exceptional work.

Finally, thank you to every volunteer who shows up on Fridays and Saturdays to make these experiences possible. You are the reason we can share the joy of sailing with people living with disabilities.

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 the 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.

The most significant leadership update is the appointment of Steve Bridge, MD, as President of Challenged Sailors San Diego. Steve is a familiar face on the docks and on the water, and has recently been serving as Vice President. Peter Phillips will continue serving on the board as Vice President in the interim.

The current board of directors is:

President - Steve Bridge, MD

Vice President (Interim) - Peter Phillips

Treasurer/Director of Development - Chet Howe

Secretary - Morgan Wright

Marketing and Communications - Ryan Sullivan

Community Outreach - Daniel Willan

At-Large - Micah Shanks

At-Large - Sam Graber

We are looking for people to step up as:

Vice President

Director of Volunteers

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 Steve Bridge, or call at 619-665-5716.

For those living with disabilities: MS, CP, TBI, quadri or paraplegia, Down syndrome, hearing impaired, blind...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.

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.