Tag Archives: Challenged America

“Star of India” meets Challenged America’s Martin 16s

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The barque “Star of India” (the oldest active sailing ship in the world) is celebrating her 150th birthday this year and was moored out in San Diego Bay for a special gala dinner on Saturday.  Challenged America’s Martin 16s got to view it up close from all sides on a beautiful fall day.

Challenged America’s fleet of Martin 16s has design features that make sailing accessible to all sailors with mobility impairments. Stability, adjustable seating and specialized control systems make it user friendly for sailors with any level of physical ability.

We offer optional automated systems for steering, sail sheeting and bilge pumping. By incorporating the needs of high quadriplegic sailing, our Martin 16 are the most accessible One-Designs on the market, providing high quads with ‘sip and puff’ options, enabling them to race competitively or just spend the day sailing on the bay.

Challenged America Martin 16s in PLYC Big Bay Charity Race

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August 17, five frequent Challenged America sailors were joined by two guests from Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors (BAADS) in San Francisco for this month’s Martin 16 mini-regatta and PLYC Big Bay Charity Race.  Special thanks to Point Loma Yacht Club for adding an additional start for the Martins to their Big Bay Charity Race on San Diego Bay and for the after-race party.

Tammy Airhart and companion sailor Brook Wilson led the fleet over the finish line after 3.25 nm.  Amelia Opean and Marshall Lubin took second

Position Boat # Sailor Companion
1 5 Tammy Airhart Brook Wilson
2 7 Amelia Opean Marshall Lubin
3 3 Eric Berkey Joe Berkey
4 2 Carwile Leroy Steve Edenson
5 1 Steve Muse Jennifer Muse
6 4 Fernanda Castillo Stan Bolle
7 8 Sue Taetzsch Anna Rossitto

Steve Muse: Born with a Hammer in his Hand

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“I would like to say that the journey in one’s life is what you make of it. Being knocked down a few notches has humbled me. It has brought me closer to the people I love. For what reason I can’t always say, because I can be a right bastard sometimes, I am loved. When the chips are down you find out who your friends are. My wife and I are tighter than we have ever been and I’m still Daddy to my kids. I’m grateful for my family and my friends. Without them you are nothing!”

Steve Muse was born in San Diego, California into a family of builders. His grandfather built his own house and a small fiberglass fishing boat among other things. His uncle Dan was a General Contractor and, at an early age, Steve spent summers working for him and learned the trades of carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, roofing, masonry, drywall, etc. They did it all! While growing up, Steve thought, everybody does that stuff. His grandfather Jesse, father Phil and Uncle Jim worked at Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical where they worked in aerospace manufacturing and development. All retired from the company which no longer exists.

Growing up in the east county, Steve attended Riverview Elementary in Lakeside. Later he matriculated to El Capitan High School, also in Lakeside. Initially, Steve attended college, but overwhelmed with his work load, soon dropped out to follow other pursuits. Continue reading →

Challenged America Volunteer Sails to Tahiti (Part1/4)

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Roughing it: San Diego to Tahiti by Marshall Lubin

Challenged America volunteer sails to Tahiti, French Polynesia. Challenged America volunteer Marshall Lubin takes a break to sail to French Polynesia, a six week journey taking him from San Diego to Tahiti.

Voyaging thousands of nautical miles on a Beneteau 50, Marshall visits the Marquesas and the Tuamotu Archipelagos and the Society Islands.  The names alone bring out dream images of turquoise water, lush islands and magical lagoons with names like Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa, Bora Bora.

Chapter 1: Sailing to the Marquesas

Early Saturday morning as I parsed my emails, I noticed a sailing invitation from an Aussie that was leaving San Diego on his fifty foot sloop. Short of crew, he needed another body, especially one with blue water experience. Contacting Bronte, the owner of the sloop, we met and discussed the impending voyage. Deciding that this was an invitation not to be capriciously dismissed, I scraped off the sclerosing barnacles from my crusty backside and geared up for a puddle jump to French Polynesia.

Continue reading →