First Time Sailors Invited to Learn to Sail in Regatta.
By Urban Miyares, Challenged America co-founder

Never sailed before? Thinking of one day taking a sailing lesson? Challenged America is throwing first-timers and novice sailors onto the firing line, with experienced racers, at the West Marine Challenged America Regatta in San Diego this Saturday, June 11.

According to Challenged America co-founder Urban Miyares, we’re inviting those who have never sailed the opportunity to take the helm in a regatta with more than 50 racing sailboats, by being the skipper in the Martin 16 division. Experienced sailors will join as crew/instructor, with the first-timer/ novice sailor, in this two-person, high performance sailboat used by the Challenged America program to teach sailors with disabilities.

“We want everyone to get the sailing experience, and nothing is better, safer or more exciting than doing that first-time experience in a Martin 16 sailboat and in a regatta,” says Miyares. “Whether or not the racer has a disability, I’m confident the adrenalin will be pumping, and all will discover a new thrill that few others have ever experienced, unless they’ve sailed and raced before.”

The Martin 16 division of eight sixteen-foot sailboats will be the last start in the West Marine Challenged America (WMCA) Regatta, and sail its own course, independent of the dozens of others, racing in larger sailboats.

The Annual West Marine Challenged America Dinner-Auction & Regatta begins on Friday, June 10,a the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island, with the Commodores Challenge (4 p.m.), of local commodores racing in the Martin 16 sailboat for bragging rights. Following, at 6 pm is the Dinner & Auction, with the keynote by former San Diego Port commissioner and business leader Stephen Cushman. A special auction items will be the American Flag, flown over Marine Base Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan, to support the Challenged America program.

For additional information on the West Marine Challenged America Regatta and Dinner-Auction, June 10 & 11, visit www.WMCAregatta.com or ChallengedAmerica.org.

Urban Miyares, co-founder
Challenged America
2240 Shelter Island Dr., Suite 108
San Diego, CA 92106
Office: (619) 523-9318
Email: Ahoy@ChallengedAmerica.org
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JAZZ CONCERT TO BENEFIT CHALLENGED AMERICA In Support of DENNIS HOWARD’s Around-the World Sailing Adventure.

Following is a wonderful letter by Brad Oliver, Half Moon Marina’s manager/dockmaster, that explains this Saturday’s Jazz Concert to benefit Challenged America and support of Dennis Howard.

Note: Dennis Howard is a blinded veteran and big supporter of the Challenged America program over the past couple of years.

Hope to see you and your friends at Humphrey’s this Saturday, April 30th — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Thank you.

All the volunteers at
Challenged America

Dear Tenants,

As some of you know and for those who don’t, one of our marina tenants, Dennis Howard, will be departing the marina later this summer on a trip that will eventually take him to Europe. This trip would seem to be pretty normal today, as you have probably heard of many people doing a trip like this in the media. But, this is no ordinary trip. You see, Dennis is sailing the trip in a 20′ Flicka sailboat. That is pretty extraordinary, but he is sailing without a motor. The boat is being outfitted with solar and wind technology that will assist him, but if he gets into trouble, he will not have an engine to fire up and move to safety. Now, you are thinking this pretty extraordinary, but that’s not the end of it. Dennis is legally blind! He has extremely limited peripheral vision (about four percent of his field of vision remains); he has adjusted quite well, but add that to the rest of the features of the trip and you have one heck of an adventure story about to unfold.

Over the last year, Dennis has been preparing the boat to get ready for the big trip. He has started a website to keep track of what he is doing and where is going. He has several sponsors lined up and interviews on TV, print, and online. As he prepares for the life changing journey, there will be a benefit concert sponsored by Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, Challenged America, and Downwind Marine on Saturday, April 30th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. I have attached the poster with the details. There will be some of Southern California’s most prominent jazz musicians playing to go along with the happy hour, camaraderie, etc.

For more information, take a look at the attached poster or go to Insight Sailing website at www.insightsailing.com.

Brad Oliver
Marina Manager/Dockmaster

Thank you Sail Jada Charters, they donated a private charter for up to 25 passengers on beautiful Jada, a classic 65 foot sailboat.

Sailing on a classic sailboat is a unique experience you don’t want to miss.  be it to reward your employees, to treat customers to a memorable experience or just to go out with friends, it’s an experience they will remember.

You can win this unique experience by joining us during the WMCA Regatta dinner June 10 at the Southwestern Yacht Club and participate in the auction

 

On behalf of our participants and volunters, a big thank you to the following sponsors for their donation for the West Marina Challenged America Rehatta auction:

J World San Diego for their donation of 2 race clinic packages for 2 participants each

Point Loma Outfitting for their donation of a Slam foul weather outfit (Bib and jacket)

Sail USA11 for their donation of a 3 hr Team building package for up to 20 participants

Stay tune for more to come.  The 2011 West Marine Challenged America Regatta auction will be exciting.  Talk about it at work, tell  your company management, tell your friends.

The regatta and auctions are major sources of funding for Challenged America and critical to keep our programs going and growing.