"There is nothing-absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."- The Water Rat, Wind in the Willows. Boats embody the spirit of possibility- so many places they might take you, so many things you might see and do! Many of my fondest memories involve my experiences on boats. As we drove out the Shelter Island causeway, the boatyards, marinas, and yachts stirred in me a familiar sense of wanderlust. Our destination was Challenged America, an adaptive sailing program that provides opportunities for disabled people to get out and sail, both recreationally and competitively.
We had come to the program to get my father and my sister checked out on the program's Martin 16 sailboats so they could sail as my able-bodied companion. After reviewing the rigging procedures for the two-seat, 16-foot sloops, we shoved off and set sail across Americas Cup Harbor. As we reached the open waters of San Diego Bay I heard a shout from my starboard side, "last one to the buoy is a rotten egg!" yelled Steve, the volunteer sailing with my sister. Something about the proximity of a similar boat compels sailors to coax every last bit of boat speed from the sails. The little boats handled nicely- the most fun I've had at 4 knots!
I'm excited to have been introduced to the Challenged America program and look forward to racing in disabled regattas in the near future.
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