Challenged America is a charitable program designed and managed by individuals with disabilities for others with disabilities. Dedicated to advance the rehabilitation and enhance a person’s physical and psychological well-being, Challenged America promotes and increases successful mainstream outcomes by program participants.
Challenged America is one of five programs of the charitable, 501(c)(3), Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA).
MISSION
The Challenged America program is dedicated to introduce sailing as a therapeutic and rehabilitative enhancing activity to individuals with disabilities, their loved ones, and professionals in healthcare and rehabilitation.
VISION
To introduce adaptive sailing and other recreational activities as a new life experience to improve health, build self-confidence, develop new skills and abilities, stimulate independence, and foster the competitive spirit of program participants to fulfill the goals and objectives of the charity.
Challenged America is designed to be a participant sustaining program.
CHALLENGED AMERICA CAPTAINS (MANAGEMENT)
Challenged America is managed by the DBA president, and governed by the all-all-volunteer board of directors of the Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA), the charitable organization under which the Challenged America program operates.
The DBA board of directors includes community and business leaders from a wide range of professional and entrepreneurial backgrounds. The board members are:
Urban Miyares, President & Challenged America co-founder.
Bob Hettiger, Challenged America co-founder.
Dr. Fred McFarlane
Barry Waxler
Judy McBain
Chris Freeman
Peter Newman
Dr. Jim McBain
Don Ross
HISTORY
In 1978 two disabled veterans in wheelchairs were at San Diego’s Mission Bay watching others sail, and said: “That looks like fun…and all of them are sitting too. Now, that’s something we should be able to do.”
Unable to find a sailing program or school able to accommodate their needs and desire to sail a boat themselves, other than provide a “ride” in a sailboat, they purchased a Cal 20 sailboat, and invited others, with and without disabilities, to learn how to sail with them.
Soon racing became a focus, and the grass-roots effort moved to San Diego’s Big Bay, graduating to a Santana 27 racing sailboat, and then followed by a Beneteau First Class 10 (34 foot) racer. The sailing program by and for the disabled developed and grew, with sailors of all ages, having various types of disabilities, most experiencing bay and offshore sailing and racing for the first time.
Today, Challenged America attracts the disabled and their loved ones, professionals in sports therapy and recreational rehabilitation, sailing instructors, yacht designers, educators, researchers, innovators, engineers and adaptive technology developers from around the world to San Diego to participate or observe the Challenged America program. Hundreds visit and sail with Challenged America each year.
TIMELINE
1978: Adaptive sailing program launched.
1990: The name “Challenged America” coined when, upon finishing the San Diego to Ensenada (Mexico) International Yacht Race, the crew decided on structuring the endeavor as a program, and created its name.
Arizona State University Art Department created the Challenged America logo as a class project.
1991: The beginning of the (1992) America’s Cup campaign in San Diego, and Challenged America sailors were invited to crew (with the Russian America’s Cup team) aboard America II, a 12-meter yacht. Although the sailors from Russia were unable to compete in the 1992 America’s Cup, Challenged America sailors had the opportunity to experience first-hand, as crew members, the challenges of sailing and racing in an America’s Cup (AC) yacht.
The first goal of Challenged America was established: To race in the Transpac Yacht Race, from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii.
1992: Challenged America becomes a therapeutic program under the charitable, 501(c)(3) Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA).
“Local Heroes: Challenged America,” a film documentary on sailors with disabilities crewing on an America’s Cup 12-meter yacht was filmed by Cox Television, funding provided by the City of San Diego. The film won the 1991 National Arts & Entertainment (A&E) Network’s “CityVideo” Award, and nominated for an Emmy.
1995: San Diego -- John Bertrand, skipper of Australia II, hosts a fundraiser for Challenged America as his America’s Cup compound in San Diego.
1999: Small boats (the Martin 16 sailboat) were added to the Challenged America therapeutic program.
2002: B’Quest was the name given to the Tripp 40 racing sailboat donated to the Challenged America program, by Brian and Suzanne Hull of Coronado, California.
2003: Goal reached…Challenged America sailors with disabilities raced B’Quest in the Transpac Yacht Race to Hawaii (2,225 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean).
City of San Diego designates June 30, 2003, as “Challenged America Day.”
2005: Team Challenged America competes, once again, in the Transpac Yacht Race.
2007: A proven race-winning Nelson/Marek Custom 43 sailboat (renamed B’Quest II) was donated by Brian and Suzanne Hull, and a race winning Kiwi 35 (renamed Lift Off) was donated by Alan Cohen of Salt Lake City, Utah.
2008: Department of Veterans Affairs’ first National Summer Sports Clinic for recently injured veterans in San Diego, Challenged America National Sponsor.
2009: Challenged America expands its fleet of (all donated) small and large vessels, and opens a new office location, alongside its boat slips, at Shelter Cove Marina, Shelter Island, San Diego, California.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
1992 – “Local Heroes: Challenged America’ film documentary A&E Network’s CityVideo Award Winner and Emmy nominee.
2003 – Transpacific Yacht Race…first team of sailors with significant disabilities to compete in the 96 year history of this race to Hawaii.
2003 – California Community Catalyst Award.
2003 – Channel 10’s (KGTV-ABC) Leadership Award.
2004 – National Year-Round Sailing Program of the Year Award, US SAILING Association.
2005 – Transpacific Yacht Race.
2005 – National Outstanding Inclusion Sailing Program, US SAILING Association
2006 – Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy, for advancing the sport of sailing, US SAILING Association.
2008 – National VA Summer Sports Clinic.
AFFILIATIONS-MEMBERSHIPS
US SAILING Association
Cortez Racing Association, San Diego, CA
Transpacific Yacht Club
San Diego Port Tenants Association
Inclusive Fitness Coalition
Operation Sail
Southern California Marine Association
CURRENT GOALS
Acquire a large, ocean-going cruising/racing sailboat able to accommodate 25 or more sailors for extended offshore cruising and educational programs.
Design and build the first, high-technology, fully-accessible and –adaptive, high-performance sailboat for sailors with disabilities.
Acquire property to design/build a Challenged America boating facility or yacht club.
To duplicate the Challenged America therapeutic adaptive sailing program throughout North America, and internationally.
To develop and promote the innovation and design of sailing and power vessels, adaptive and assistive safety equipment, devices, electronics and gear to advance the sport of sailing as a therapeutic activity for all people having disabilities.
To produce and distribute an educational publication and video library of the procedures, techniques, instruction, technologies and benefits in adaptive sailing as a positive and effective therapeutic life-style activity for various medical and disabling conditions.
Work with researchers in the healthcare, rehabilitative, and scientific fields to conduct research and establish case studies on the primary and secondary benefits of sailing for people with disabilities.
