What began as an impossible dream in 1991 (to do the Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu), is now a reality at the San Diego-based Challenged America program of sailors with disabilities.
With a crew of six disabled sailors in 2003, aboard their (donated) Tripp 40 sailboat “B’Quest” , Team Challenged America made history in being the first disabled crew to do this legendary 2,225 nautical mile race, and repeated the adventure across the Pacific Ocean again in 2005.
Today, 2013, with more than 30 candidates from around the world vying for a crew position, but due to limited funding to accommodate a full crew and attract a larger, donated sailboat, two disabled veterans, David Hopkins and Urban Miyares, will be racing, double-handed, aboard Team Challenged America’s Tripp 40 sailboat in the Transpac.
Much in modifications and an adaptations are required of “B’Quest” to safely and comfortably accommodate this two-person crew, advancing rehabilitation further in the design and layout for future offshore racing and sailing vessels crewed by sailors with disabilities, or those who become physically impaired while at sea.
Challenged America was created by disabled veterans in 1978 to self-direct and advance one’s own rehabilitation, and today hundreds participate each year in the (no-cost) Challenged America year-round adaptive sailing program.
Challenged America is a therapeutic program of the charitable and educational, volunteer-driven, 501c3, Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA). Your support will help make dreams a reality for thousands of kids, adults and veterans with disabilities, and their loved ones.. All donations, contributions and gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent the law allows.
Challenged America will be in the Transpacific Yacht Race this July 8th, 2013. Urban Miyares, Co-Founder and David Hopkins, Director of Vessel & Gift Donations for the charitable Challenged America program will be double handed racing on a Tripp 40 sailboat called B’Quest. What makes their entry special is that Urban Miyares is blind, has Type 1 diabetes (and a host of other medical issues), and David Hopkins has a hearing impairment. Both of them are disabled veterans … and well seasoned sailboat racers and they intend to win this race.
Why Are They Doing This Race to Hawaii?
Urban and David are dedicated volunteers helping those with physical and hidden impairment through therapeutic sailing and racing programs. They have literally changed the lives of so many. Now they are on a quest to bring attention to Challenged America and the needs of the many fellow disabled veterans, as well as to others with disabilities and their loved ones.
A Life of Sailing After Death
Urban Miyares’ story is well-known in the veteran community. Army infantry platoon Sgt. Miyares was presumed dead during an operation in Viet Nam in 1968 and was placed in a (KIA) body bag when, after two days, a combat medic, assigned to toe-tag the dead soldiers, found him still breathing. From that extraordinary incident and for the next 45 years, Miyares’ has gone on to grow several businesses, become a world class Alpine skier, and has developed his sailing skills to be a competitive offshore racer.
Transpac: The Famous Race Across the Pacific
The Transpacific Yacht Race (Transpac) is now into its second century. This legendary race began in 1906 by the request of King David Kalakaua of the Hawaiian Islands. He felt that this race would strengthen the islands’ economic and cultural ties with the mainland. Clarence MacFarlane, a racing sailor from Honolulu, initiated the race with other sailors off the coast of San Pedro. The original starting point was to be San Francisco, but due to the earthquake and fire of 1906, just 27 days prior to the intended starting date, the starting point was changed to Point Fermin in San Pedro, California. The finish line is off the Diamond Head Lighthouse in Honolulu, Hawaii totaling 2,225 nautical miles.
The challenging race course takes competitors through a myriad of unforeseen conditions: from the cold, wet Northeastern Pacific, through doldrums, enormous seas, abundant squalls and scorching heat, to the blustery trade winds of the Molokai Channel near the finish. With their start date of July 8th, Urban & David anticipate an arrival in Honolulu of July 19 – 20, with a podium appearance, with you (hopefully) being at the dock in Hawaii for the traditional Aloha Welcome and following ceremonies. With much media coverage assured, you will also be able to follow this race on both the Challenged America website (www.ChallengedAmerica.org) and on the Transpacific Yacht Club’s race website (www.TranspacRace.com).
Come With Us To Hawaii.
You can be a part of the (Sponsorship) crew with David Hopkins and Urban Miyares as they make this most-challenging and demanding crossing to Hawaii. Your support will help expand the scope of this 36 year old therapeutic Challenged America adaptive sailing program to reach the lives of thousands of kids, adults, and veterans (wounded warriors) with disabilities.
Click on the link bellow for the information on Sponsoring the Challenged America Program and Urban and David in the 2013 Transpac Race to Hawaii.
2013 Transpac Team Challenged America Campaign Committee
Tom Jarvis, Cpt. Ken Guyer, John Dodge, Dave Myer, Chris Carstens, Philippe Gadeyne
P.S. Challenged America is a therapeutic and rehabilitative program of the charitable and educational (501c3) Disabled Businesspersons Association, a volunteer-driven organization enhancing the lives of thousands with disabilities each year. All support, sponsorship, gifts and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by the law. Tax-Exempt #)33-0484461, Disabled Businesspersons Association.
P.S.S. You can make your donation by sending a check to “Challenged America<” or by PayPal at www.ChallengedAmerica.org, or talk to someone about Sponsoring Team Challenged America in the 2013 Transpac by either emailing your contact information to Ahoy@ChallengedAmerica.org or call (619) 523-9318.
We’ll Help You, At No Charge, With Your SPRING CLEANING
March & April rings in the tradition of Spring Cleaning, and the volunteers at Challenged America want to help you get rid of those unwanted and unused items. We’ll take them off your hands gleefully … and you can then take a tax-deduction for your gift to the charity.
JUST GIVE US A CALL ~ LEAVE A MESSAGE ~ OR EMAIL
Call (619) 523-9318 or Dave Hopkins at (619) 405-6770 Email us:
Clean out your garage, the storage shed in the backyard, the attic, your storage locker at the storage unit or at the boat, or anywhere else you’ve been holding onto those unused items — Boating Equipment, Sailing Supplies, Fishing Gear, Tools, Electronics (working), Sports Equipment, Office Supplies, New & Old Sails, Vehicles, Boats, Trailers, possibly even furniture and things you believe the Challenged America Program or those we serve can use or benefit from. Nothing is too small or too large …
Tell your friends and neighbors at home, at the Marina, Yacht Club, and Work.
Thank you Chris Carlsten from Nine Towers Audio/Video to volunteer, shoot and produce this video showcasing Challenged America
Challenged America Sails for 36 Years. View this exciting video of the Challenged America Story, from how and when it began, to where it is today. This video introduces you to the founders, disabled veterans, and how they were motivated to expand and advance their own rehabilitation to others with disabilities, kids, adults, veterans and recent Wounded Warriors. See how the entire family can be actively involved with a loved one’s rehabilitation at Challenged America. From sailing year-round in small, 16-foot, two-person sailboats in San Diego bay, to sailing offshore in ocean-racing yachts. Discover how contributions by the general public, donation of vessels, and the volunteering effort by hundreds have made Challenged America North America’s premiere adaptive sailing therapeutic program since 1978 … and how you can help, regardless of where you live, to support the work the charitable Challenged America program does, and join us in the next big adventure of sailors with disabilities racing in the 2013 Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii. Call us today at (619) 523-9318, email Ahoy@ChallengedAmerica.org,
Very rarely do you get to meet a person as inspiring as Urban Miyares, the current president and co-founder of the adaptive sailing program Challenged America. The story of how, and why, he was inspired to join Challenged America back in the mid 1980s is quite astonishing, and for perspective, bears repeating as often as possible. In 1968 the then 20 year-old Army Sergeant Miyares’ platoon was engaged in a fire fight, when he slipped into a diabetic coma. Left for dead, Miyares was placed into a body bag where he spent 2 days until an alert medic detected a heartbeat. Miyares spent the next six months recovering in a military hospital, but the event left its mark. “I’m totally blind, I have diabetes, several organ transplants, and a whole number of medical issues.” Due to severe nerve damage in his lower extremities, Miyares is considered a walking paraplegic. Miyares doesn’t let any of it slow him down; he has solidly engaged life more than most able-bodied people!
Miyares sailed as a youth, and after his experience in Viet Nam, he never thought that he’d be able to actively sail again. In the late 80s he was invited aboard a Beneteau First Class 10 to race in the Oceanside Race, he remembers, “It was a windy day, we had some problems on the boat, and all of the sudden I started remembering things from years past.” He and his other crew members, who were also disabled vets, began thinking about developing an adaptive sailing program, and Challenged America was born! Through Challenged America, Miyares has reached thousands of disabled vets by getting them aboard sailboats. Challenged America has a small fleet of adaptive sailing boats at their facility in San Diego, and a testimonial from one of their clients says it all, “The phrase ‘leave your disabilities at the dock’ could not be more true! When I’m on the water, at the helm of a sailboat, and enjoying all the sights and sounds of San Diego Bay, I forget about the wheelchair sitting on the dock.”
Challenged America crew after finishing Transpac 2003
This year, Miyares and crew David Hopkins have entered the Transpac, and will race in the double-handed division aboard their Tripp 40 B’Quest. Miyares recalls, “We’ve taken her two times before on Transpac, 2003 and 2005, with a crew with disabilities. We’ve modified the boat quite a bit for the different disabilities; we’ve added quite a bit of weight, and this time we’re going to take the boat again.”
For their needs, a larger boat would be better, and according to Miyares, the Challenged America team has been trying to get a larger boat, “We’ve been close to getting the TP52 Rio, and have had everything from a Rhodes designed boat supposedly being donated to us, to a Santa Cruz 70, but things take time. Rather than waiting and waiting, we decided that with our resources we’d redo the Tripp 40. One reason that we’re looking for a larger boat is when we start adding elevators, like we had in our previous boat, the smaller boats can’t take the weight. We’re a good inch and a half lower in the water than the other Tripp 40 that we’re racing against.” If Challenged America can get something in time to make the necessary modifications, they’ll take it instead of the Tripp 40, but the window is narrow to make it into this years Transpac.
Preparations and modifications to make a boat easier to use in an adaptive sailing environment are very similar to what anyone would to customize their boat for a race. Miyares explains, “We’re modifying it for double handed sailing this time, so if for some reason we do get a short- handed crew, the remaining crew is still able to sail the boat. As far as the modifications, it’s going to be similar to one of the Vendee Globe type of boats; we’re going to have roller furling, and asym, etc, so that we can manage the sail plan easily. We have special cockpit seats that we’ll have installed, which we’ve used in the previous Transpacs. Other than that, we’ll add some electronics, like a talking GPS, and modify some of the running rigging to make it easier for the helms-person to use.”
Sailing the Transpac is challenging to even the most able-bodied sailor, a fact that inspires Miyares to push even harder, “Transpac is our Mount Everest! We always try to push the bar higher as far as what we can do safely and competitively.” Challenged America is looking for sponsors and financial support. They are a charitable program of the Disabled Businesspersons Association, which is a 501c3, and all donations are 100% tax deductible.
Planning is underway for the 2nd DASH to Chula Vista – a 2 day regatta hosted by Chula Visa Yacht Club. On Saturday, April 13, our Martin 16s will race 8 miles from Harbor Island to Chula Vista Marina. Then we’ll race back on Sunday.
More details to come, but if you’d like to participate as a sailor, companion or volunteer, please send an email to Doug. We need volunteers to prepare for the event, solicit raffle items, assist at the docks and on chase boats, and be Martin 16 companion sailors.
Sailing is free, donations are welcome and help us keep the program free. To make a secure, tax deductible donation, click here
After 4 races, Saturday, Ryan Porteous lead the day, followed by Eric Berkey and Steve Muse. For complete results, see the table bellow.
Position
Boat #
Sailor
Companion
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Total
1
5
Ryan Porteous
Kristy Porteous
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
Eric Berkey
Jon Berkey
3
2
2
3
10
3
2
Steve Muse
Jennifer Muse
2
6
6
2
16
4
3
Colin Smith
Anna Rossitto
4
3
5
4
16
5
7
Loch Crane
Stan Bolle
5
5
3
6
19
6
6
Tammy Airhart
Marshall Lubin
6
4
4
5
19
If you own a Martin 16 and would like to participate, you are more than welcome, please contact Doug at our office to let us know.
If you are interested but do not own a Martin 16, feel free to call Doug and ask him if we have a boat and a companion available. If you already have a qualified companion, bring him or her along.
Racing is free, donations are greatly appreciated and help us keep our program free, to donate. To make a secure, tax deductible donation, click here:
Celebrate with Challenged America on Monday, March 18 at the
12th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Feast at Fiddler’s Green Restaurant
where everyone goes for St. Patrick’s Day to support kids, adults and veterans with disabilities and the Challenged America program.
MONDAY, March 18, 2011, 5:30 PM to 8 PM
Fiddler’s Green Restaurant
2760 Shelter Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 222-2216
The well-known “in spot” on the San Diego waterfront where everyone meets for fine steak and seafood, beverages and entertainment, Feast at Fiddler’s is that No Extra Cost, No Speeches fundraising event everyone loves. Come with family and friends for dinner, meet other supporters and participants in the Challenged America program, and just order off the menu. Steve Rock, owner of Fiddler’s Green Restaurant donates the proceeds to the Challenged America program.
Enjoy a traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebration with others and support a good cause.
When Urban Miyares was a young boy, he dreamed of sailing around the world. His entry in the 2013 Transpacific Yacht Race — a 2,225-mile ocean adventure — puts him just a little closer to accomplishing his goal.
In July, Miyares and David Hopkins will race against some of the world’s most famous sailors — and some of the largest and fastest boats — in a transpacific crossing. The race starts off Point Fermin in Los Angeles and ends off Diamond Head, east of Honolulu.
Together, the vets will shatter the concept that the race is impossible or too challenging for sailors with disabilities to complete. Sailing in the race allows the two to live the mission that Miyares’ organization is founded on: making dreams a reality.
“It’s been one of my dreams to sail around the world, so this is a preliminary for me — to see if I really can do it,” said Miyares, co-founder of Challenged America, a therapeutic sailing organization founded in 1987.
Based at San Diego’s Harbor Island, Challenged America offers year-round no-charge learn-to-sail opportunities for children, adults and veterans with disabilities. The organization uses sailing to help disabled sailors build self-confidence, develop new skills and abilities and stimulate independence.
In 2003 and 2005, Miyares competed in Transpac with Team Challenged America. This will be his first time competing double-handed: a new and welcome challenge for the San Diego resident.
Miyares, a blind and multidisabled Vietnam veteran; and Hopkins, a Navy veteran with a service-related hearing impairment, aim to finish the race in 12 days.
“We’ve been trying to attract a large boat donation for the Transpac for the past few years,” Miyares said. “And although we’ve been close to receiving some large racing vessels from 50 to 70 feet in length, we’ve decided not to wait any longer and do this race now, with our Tripp 40 B’Quest.”
Challenged America sailed on B’Quest during the 2003 and 2005 Transpac, completing the race in 13 days.
B’Quest has been hauled out at Shelter Island Boatyard, where it is undergoing major modifications in preparation for race day. The vessel will be “slimmed down,” with a telescoping bowsprit, and roller-furling and asymmetrical sails and rigging installed.
“With the quickly advancing technology of just the past few years, we will hopefully be including the latest in electronics and other devices, such as sound-output, so Urban can more comfortably handle communications and navigation,” Hopkins said. “But I’m sure Urban will have his Braille compass handy to check on our course.”
Challenged America is attempting to procure a larger vessel donation, so that more disabled sailors can compete in next year’s race. Until then, Miyares and Hopkins serve as inspiration for others.
“I have a passion for helping others understand that just because you have a disability, that doesn’t mean you can’t compete in an able-bodied world,” Miyares said. “Our program is primarily a therapy to help people get back into society, start feeling good about themselves and to show them what they are still capable of doing with their new minds and bodies.”
For more information, or to sponsor Team Challenged America in the 2013 Transpac Race, contact Urban Miyares or David Hopkins at Challenged America, 955 Harbor Island Drive, Suite 130, San Diego; (619) 523-9318; email ahoy@challengedamerica.org.
