The sun was up, no coastal layer, light winds, everybody had a great time. Thank you West Marine for the raffle prizes and the ladies of WORSA who spent countless hours helping in the making of a beautiful nautical themed quilt
The quilt went to a 8 year old young lady, oldest survivor of a rare kidney disease who just received a kidney transplant.
August 20, Dana Point. Come join us (participants and volunteers alike) and the Women’s Offshore Racing Sailing Association on August 20 in Dana Point for this yearly fun event to benefit Challenged America. You’ll be able to hop on a boat and get a first-hand experience of racing offshore in a large sailboat as crew with WORSA members and friend in their vessels. Sign up today so we can arrange car pooling to and from Dana Point on August
Loch and Clare: An Incredible Pair!
By Marshall Lubin
Loch Crane was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 22, 1921. His parents with a dude ranch in mind, made a detour to Cody Wyoming before immigrating to San Diego in 1929 where they settled around Point Loma.
An avid sailor from his earliest years Loch began modifying skiffs to make them sail better, and faster. He began sailing Starlets, Dragons, Luters, and the occasional PC. His parents joined the San Diego Yacht Club in the early years; he has been a member since.
In his youth, Loch could always be seen drawing and working with his hands which was early training for his future profession as an architect. Splitting his time between Phoenix and Wisconsin as an apprentice to the famed Frank Lloyd Wright in the early forties, Loch was introduced to Clare, his future bride by Mr. Wright. Loch left his studies to join the war effort against Japan after the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor.
In the service, Loch was a flight instructor, teaching nascent pilots how to fly B25 bombers.
In 1944, he and Clare married in San Diego, They then moved to Texas, where Loch was stationed. After the war, the Cranes’ flew (yes, I know) to San Diego, their home town. Soon afterward, they moved north to L.A. where Loch was enrolled in an architectural program. In a collaboration of his brains and manual dexterity, Loch graduated Cum Laude from USC. Back to San Diego, he was responsible for the design of numerous city buildings, private residences and commercial buildings. In 2001 Loch retired from his design practice and began playing full time … to include volunteering and supporting Challenged America.
Early on, Clare learned Loch’s enthusiasm for water sports and urged him to sail with friends. Unfortunately, Clare was struck with motion sickness at an early age and soon became a sailing widow. Busy with her own studies and work, Clare didn’t mind meeting Loch on the dock after a day on the bay.
In the 1980’s Loch sailed a 32′ sloop he owned to Hawaii. Reporting that trip as one of his most memorable times at sea, Loch still reminisces about that transoceanic voyage. Soon afterwards, Clare and Loch went to Europe to investigate the inland waterways of the continent. There, they purchased a 32′ Dutch canal boat that they sailed during the summer months, and then left in a marina in Europe. Returning for the next three summers, the touring couple celebrated their golden years cruising the rivers of many European countries. Their enjoyment of that boat (named “Dolphin”) was immense; Loch and Clare had it shipped to San Diego where it is slipped today, although, not currently under Loch’s ownership.
Loch has been a close friend of Urban since 1999, and is a founding supporter of Challenged America where he has donated over $250,000 in cash, equipment and vessels, not to mention all the repairs, modifications and adaptations on/for sailboats he personally worked on. Loch was responsible for purchasing at least 5 of CA’s 8 Martin 16’s. In earlier days Loch could be found working to maintain the boats in CA’s corral. Today he is a recipient of CA’s programs, where he enjoys sailing the Martins weekly.
In 2003 when engineers and helpers came to San Diego to help modify Challenged America’s Tripp 40 racing sailboat “B’Quest I” for a disabled crew to sail the 2003 Transpac Race to Hawaii, the Crane’s offered to house them in their La Jolla home, while they labored for weeks on “B’Quest.”
In 2004 when Urban fell ill and required a kidney transplant, Loch and Clare visited him in the hospital in Portland, Oregon. A close friendship growing stronger each year.
Loch states he’s ‘worked with many charitable organizations in San Diego throughout his life, but none compares to Challenged America. “It far outstrips any organization I’ve worked for, ten times over.” During the years when the therapeutic sailing program has fallen behind or needed a hand, Loch was always there with a check, wanting to make sure the office was open; the boats were ship-shape and ready to sail. Today the Challenged America program is like a second home to Loch where he is loved and admired by those that share his unselfish admiration for Challenged America
In respect for the unlimited giving, friendship, and support of the Crane’s the upcoming Martin 16 regatta will be known as the “Loch & Clare Crane Martin 16 Regatta.”
Loch claims there is no truth to the rumor that his older brother’s name is Ickabod.
Editor’s Comment: Often Challenged America supporters and sponsors do not realize that one day they too may need one or more of the services provided by Challenged America and the Disabled Businesspersons Association. Loch Crane is but one of many examples where, once a supporter and sponsor, today he is an active program participant in Challenged America, sailing weekly in the Martin 16 sailboat. “Live long enough and you too will be one of us.” And when that happens, with your continued support we will be here for you too, or someone you love, when you need us the most.
I first met Hiro when we sailed together in 2009. It was easy to notice his excellent sailing skills onboard B’Quest II. We crewed the 43′ sloop, along with many others, in the Border Run from Newport Beach to San Diego. Hiro is a medium height, thin, 44 year old man, whose senses have been honed to a sharp point; Hiro feels because he doesn’t see.
Born with a congenital vision defect known as Retinal Chondro Atrophy, Hiro began to have problems in his youth. In high school he began bumping into things, then stumbling on stairways and finally realizing he needed a cane to walk, he began to accept his blindness.
Hiro was born in 1966 in a small town called Amakusa City in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. He met his future wife, an American living in Japan, in 1992 and was half of a long distance relationship as Karen returned to the states with her family. Hiro came to the U.S. to study, married Karen, and she introduced him to the sport of sailing in 2002. They currently live in San Diego and have one daughter.
In 2008 Hiro discovered Challenged America (CA) where a firm bond was soon forged. Hiro began sailing the Martin 16’s that CA typically provides and then moved on to the Catalina 22, the 43′ B’Quest II and had the opportunity to race on her with Dennis Conner. Hiro also has crewed in the Hot Rum and summertime Beer Can series here in San Diego.
What I didn’t know was just how good a sailor Hiro is. In 2006 he was the Japanese Blind Sailing Champion, a title he won in Rhode Island. On the east coast he sailed a Sonar 23 and J-22 .
Currently, as the age of 44, Hiro is training to sail, double-handed, across the Pacific in a 45 foot Hunter sloop. Reaching Japan from the west coast of the U.S., a distance of over four thousand miles, would be a dream come true for Hiro.
Another of Hiro’s dreams is to give seminars on “Lighting the fire of life.” Hiro has been through the depression that accompanied his developing disability. He has persisted, doggedly at times; he has put his energy on a positive tack and made an exciting life for himself. He would like to share his passion with others that need a spark to light-up their days, to put them on the right track and help them renew their fervor for life.
Hiro thanks Challenged America for getting him involved in the sailing program at Shelter Island. Meeting other great sailors like Urban Miyares, Dennis Conner and others. There, he participated in a program that puts those with disabilities in a boat where their disabilities can be forgotten, their limits can be temporarily overcome, and their spirits can soar. Life may be full of challenges for those with disabilities and those without, but like any challenge, when you persevere you have a much greater chance of winning; just look at Hiro.
Editor’s Note: Our first communication from Hiro was in August, 2003 when, referred by a Japanese sailor with a disability who raced at a Challenged America event. Hiro then wanted to come to the United States and sail with Challenged America as a member of its next Transpac Team.
