THE CAUSE: Challenged America

Picture sails flying beneath the blue of the San Diego Skyline. Imagine the conversation, “Could SOMEBODY skirt the jib, please!” The wise guys laugh, the boat heels to a puff and a blind sailor smiles as he eases the main. The skipper bears down on his mark. Both hands on the wheel, he steadies himself, as he must, needing the wheel as much as the wheel needs him because there’s two legs missing and his prosthetics just don’t sense things the way his feet used to. “Tacking” is shouted… then, “hard a lee” and a guy who can’t hear watches the skippers mouth instead and pops the windward genny sheet.

Challenged America’s 43 foot sloop B’Quest II rounds the mark while the pit crew, a stroke victim and another amputee, haul the spinnaker up and throw it through the hatch. They’re a team getting a chance to test their limits because of contributions made in sweat and money to their organization, Challenged America.

What’s coming up is the very first, the inaugural running, of THE WEST MARINE CHALLENGED AMERICA REGATTA. The Regatta’s being held June 12 and 13 here in San Diego, and it will be run under the experienced eyes and generous hands of THE CORTEZ RACING ASSOCIATION. CRA, THE WEST MARINE CORPORATION and many, many others are putting their dedication behind the Regatta because they’ve seen firsthand out there on the water the brilliant grace and warmth their contributions make possible in the cockpits and on the foredecks of Challenged America’s specially equipped fleet year in and year out.

Your sponsorship and donations for the THE WEST MARINE CHALLENGED AMERICA REGATTA go right to the heart of every disabled sailor aboard. The vast majority of Challenged America’s staff are VOLUNTEERS.

So JUMP ABOARD!! Join us in making this first running of the Regatta a thing to remember! There’s a great FUN dinner Friday night June 12, with a FAMOUS GUEST SPEAKER, and tempting auction items to be had. Don’t feel like getting wet? Jump aboard a Regatta Spectator boat Sunday June 13, and hoist a glass to a noble group making their way across the bay!

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