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The e-mail, sent to crew candidates (sailors with disabilities), supporters and sponsors around the nation continued, with Urban Miyares (cofounder of the San Diego-based Challenged America program for kids, adults and veterans with disabilities) closing the e-mail thanking everyone, with hopes for their continues support of the Challenged America program and its future participation in races, such as Transpac. "One of the most difficult emails I've had to write in years," said Urban Miyares, two-time Transpac sailor and blinded Vietnam veteran. "Racing in the Transpac was Challenged America's original and only goal in the late 1980's, and our first attempt was back in 1991. But when we finally raced in the 2003 Transpac for the first time, with a crew of sailors having disabilities, the race to Hawaii became addictive, and not only Challenged America sailors, but sailors with disabilities from around the world all looked at Transpac, once being a dream, now as a goal. "Immediately after we completed the 2003 Transpac race to Hawaii, a lot of people around the world became taller. Not being at the starting-line on July 9th for the 2007 Transpac will be hard, especially for those sailors with disabilities who had worked and planned to be on the Challenged America team, to fulfill their dream of racing in the 2007 Transpac. It's a shame, as we just ran out of time." Challenged America began in 1978 when two disabled veterans in wheelchairs became frustrated when they were unable to find a sailing program in Southern California that would accommodate their challenges, and meet their unique needs. These veterans purchased a small sailboat and taught themselves how to sail, inviting others having various disabilities to sail with them, as they learned and adapted their boat (changing its size over the years) as the crew grew in numbers. After competing in many bay and offshore races in Southern California and having success against boats crewed by the able-bodied, the effort was coined "Challenged America" in 1990. Since then, the all-volunteer charitable program has grown to be recognized as one of the largest sailing programs for the disabled, with Challenged America being a leader in the field of innovations and adaptive sailing practices and techniques, creating sailing opportunities for those who were once denied access to sailing due to the severity of their disability, and enhance the seamanship and skills of sailors with disabilities as a rehabilitation activity. According to Miyares, "Many sailors and most of the general public are not aware of the many unique challenges we face and extra costs we must absorb, compared to our competitors, especially in a race like the Transpac. Where others concentrate on preparing and equipping their vessels to sail fast and finding the best and most able-bodied of crew to perform the tasks, we must make sure our nontraditional sailors are capable, physically, medically and mentally to handle the rigors of a Transpac, and then train them, as many crew candidates have never sailed offshore. "Next it comes to the boat being prepared for any emergency, at any time. And then the race, with our first objective being to finish respectably and safe. Not only must our boat be adapted to meet the personal demands of each crew member with a disability, but the boat must be in the best possible of condition -- with no questions as to whether a piece of gear or equipment is Transpac ready, but it also must be ready for a second Transpac afterwards. (In the 2005 Transpac, as an example, we replaced the mast, thanks to Forespar, and all our standing rigging because an inspection revealed that our mast was probably in the 'should be - could be Transpac factor' range.) "No room for error, guessing or hoping here, especially with our crew, and being over-prepared, at any cost, is required. Then all the provisions, emergency equipment and supplies, special food, extra water, communications, etc., are planned for self-sufficiency and extended time at sea, in the 2,225 nautical miles from Los Angeles to Honolulu. "Medications and medical supplies are a logistic all to their own and requires extensive time in planning for each crew member, as the types and degrees of medical issues onboard is extensive. We may have disabilities, but we are not sick...and we want to keep it that way. The logistics and needs are compounded, especially when you talk about nontraditional sailors. All this comes at an additional cost, not to mention additional weight, which does not do well for our boat's competitive performance and rating. "And then we have the training process to identify the crew members, who may come from other parts of the country to practice with the team, along with all the additional personnel required to make a Transpac happen. Challenged America is pioneering in an area that has not previously been explored, especially in offshore sailing and given the diverse disabilities of the crew, and we are learning and documenting how to be active and competitive in a new frontier for the next generation of sailors having (significant and severe) disabilities. "We've discovered, after doing the Transpac twice, that with no corporate or large financial support, the two-years between Transpacs may just be too short of a time for us. But it's a challenge we know we have to face if we want to play in this arena. There's no excuses or crying in sailing, and the sea makes it an uneven playing field for everyone, equally. As a team, we just need to work harder, especially when you start from dollar one each day, and establish a new territory that others will hopefully follow and improve upon." "Challenged America is continuing its effort to be at the Transpac starting line on July 9, 2007, by going forward to add modifications and make-ready the bottom of our donated Tripp 40 sailboat, B'Quest. Corporate sponsor Koehler Kraft, San Diego, will be doing the yard work, to include a new racing bottom finish, with high-tech paint being donated by Interlux Paint, and install newly designed cockpit seats and an elevator to access the cabin for those who are unable to walk, with plans to replace the running rigging, do sail modifications for the newly installed bowsprit, and replace electronics -- a GPS, radar system, and auto helm are yet needed. "Now that we've made the announcement about being unable to do the 2007 Transpac, guess the panic of making the deadline is over, unless someone comes forward to help. Time and money just don't travel at the same speed. With funding, everything goes quicker, including your boat," "There's always a breeze of hope, even at the last minute that it will happen. But we're now looking past the 2007 Transpac and moving forward, resetting our entire program's goals, and hopefully shoot for the next Transpac in 2009. Maybe it's all for the best. Time will tell, but right now it's disappointing for not only all of us in Challenged America, but all those who support us. Maybe a skipper in the 2007 Transpac is looking for an experienced Transpac sailor with the Aloha spirit. I know one personally who doesn't slow down in the darkness of nighttime racing." For additional information on the Challenged America program and how you can help, contact Urban Miyares at Challenged America, 3850 Camino del Rio North, San Diego, CA 92108, phone (619) 594-8805, email at Port@ChallengedAmerica.org. All contributions, vessel and vehicle donations are tax-deductible as a charitable gift to further the sport of sailing for nontraditional sailors -- kids, adults and veterans with disabilities. 03/13/07 |
