San Diego, California - Eleven members from the “A” and “B” teams of the AIMS “Challenged America” Racing Team will be crewing their Tripp 40 sailboat (B’Quest) in this year’s Newport Beach (California) to Ensenada (Mexico) Ocean Race. The start is this Friday, April 26, 2002.

“This will be a good sea trial for our new racing sailboat, and a great first-time look at the entire crew in offshore racing conditions,” said Urban Miyares, blinded sailor and member of the team. “We’ll be able to exam all our sails, electronics, equipment and gear, get to experiment with new safety devices and adaptations we have added to the boat, and test products, better preparing us for our entry in the upcoming race to Hawaii in June.”

The crew in the Newport to Ensenada Race include both U.S. and Canadian sailors having disabilities, to include spinal cord injury, blindness, hearing impairment, diabetes, kidney disease, stroke and cancer survivors, etc. The race to Mexico will be approximately 24 to 30 hours in length, with the team sailing 25 or more miles offshore in, typically, downwind conditions.

“Eight crew members will be selected to race B’Quest in the Gateway To Hawaii (G2H) Race,” said Miyares. “This 2,323 nautical mile race, the longest West Coast to Hawaii race, starting in San Diego bay on June 25, 2002, and finishing in Nawiliwili Bay, Kauai, Hawaii, is an event many crew members have been planning and training for for years. Racing to Hawaii is that one race every competitive sailor needs to get under his or her keel.”

AIMS “Challenged America” is a recreational rehabilitation sailing program for individuals with physical disabilities and professionals in recreational therapy. Based in San Diego, California, the program is co-sponsored by the American Institute of Marine Studies (AIMS) and the Disabled Businesspersons Association, both public benefit corporations. Funding for this free program comes from individual and corporate (tax-deductible) bequests and donations.

For additional information on the AIMS “Challenged America” program, the racing team, participation, sponsorship or volunteering, contact Josh Ross or call (619) 523-9318