Challenged America: Let’s do the 2013 Transpac

Let’s do the 2013 Transpac

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.

To make a tax deductible donation, click here

Thank you Chris Carstens and Nine Towers for the video

2013 Transpac Team Challenged America, Join Us To Hawaii

Join Us To Hawaii

2013 Transpac Team Challenged America

Aloha,

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 (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.

Team Challenged America Transpac 2013 Sponsor Program

We eagerly look forward to your support.

Mahalo,

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 ChallengedAmerica.org, or  talk to someone about Sponsoring Team Challenged America in the 2013 Transpac by either emailing your contact information to or call (619) 523-9318.

Challenged America Sailor Chairs National Disabled Sailors Council

Photo: Kevin Wixom trimming the genoa aboard B'Quest I, a Tripp 40 (2005).

Kevin Wixom, Team Challenged America 2005 Transpac crew member and volunteer, has accepted the chair position of the Council for Sailors with Disabilities, US SAILING. Great going Kevin.