Dear Friend and Supporter of Challenged Sailors San Diego:

As you plan your holiday and year-end giving, please consider contributing to Challenged Sailors San Diego in order to enable us to continue our adaptive sailing program for people with disabilities to enhance their dignity, well being, and independence.  We have set a goal of raising $15,000 by December 31, 2015. Challenged Sailors San Diego, Inc. is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all donations are deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

During the short time since CSSD was formed just one year ago, much has been accomplished.  We participated in the US Disabled Sailing Championships, formed an alliance with the Paralyzed Veterans of America who sponsors two of our boats, conducted the DASH to Chula Vista with Chula Vista Yacht Club, held the first annual Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta at the Coronado Yacht Club, provided hundreds of adaptive sailing opportunities for those living with a variety of disabilities including visual impairment or blindness, hearing impairment or deafness, Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injury, Muscular Dystrophy, amputation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, ALS and more.

We were recently notified of a generous grant from Torrey Pines Kiwanis designated for our Power Assist system that enables those with quadriplegia to sail independently with a special joystick or sip and puff system. We are submitting grant requests to other foundations and the Port of San Diego for future support.

Meanwhile, CSSD must carry on with donations from generous friends and supporters like you.  Please donate before the end of the year to provide smooth sailing for CSSD into 2016.

Please send your check to:

    Challenged Sailors San Diego, Inc.

    Attn: Sylvia Swall, Treasurer

    PO Box 6994

    San Diego, CA 92166

Or donate online through PayPal at www.challengedsailors.org (credit cards accepted).

Your generous support is truly needed and appreciated.

Kevin Wixom, President

Sylvia Bate Swall, Treasurer

Maria Arroyo, Secretary

and all of our Board of Advisors and Committee Chairs

CSSD awarded grant from Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation

The Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation has awarded a grant to Challenged Sailors San Diego for Martin 16 Power Assist System components. This system enables sailors to steer and sheet the Martin 16 via an electronic joystick or sip & puff control.

This grant is funded via the San Diego Festival of the Arts (formerly known as the La Jolla Festival of the Arts), one of the most prestigious art shows in the country. It will feature over 190 award-winning artists, delicious and healthy cuisines along with your favorite beverage and live entertainment. The 30th annual Festival, produced by the Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation, will be held June 11 and 12, 2016. It will be held at a beautiful new location: Downtown San Diego - at the Waterfront Park on the San Diego County Administration Building campus on Harbor Drive, across from the Star of India. Proceeds will benefit adaptive sports and recreation programs for San Diegans with disabilities including recently injured servicemembers. Please visit http://www.sdfestivalofthearts.org/.

Betsy Alison Wins ISAF President's Development Award

Betsy Alison has been awarded the ISAF President's Development Award for her outstanding achievement in the development of Para World Sailing in 2015.

http://www.ussailing.org/betsy-alison-wins-isaf-presidents-development-award-for-para-world-sailing-initiative/

CSSD General Meeting, 10/31/15

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2015 we will be having a general meeting to update all interested participants and volunteers. 

Please join us at:

Sunroad Resort Marina

955 Harbor Island Drive

San Diego, CA 92101

GATE 1 (west end of Sunroad Marina parking lot)

TIME: 10:00-12:00

Paralyzed Veterans of America Sailing Clinic

Photo by Chris Di Virgilio, PN Online

 

Challenged Sailors San Diego (CSSD) hosted members of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) for a two day Sailing Clinic on September 11 and 12.  Disabled sailors from the San Diego area, Long Beach, Chicago, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. sailed San Diego Bay in CSSD's Martin 16s with our amazing CSSD companion sailors.  

 

All of the sailors (most sailing for the first time) loved the experience and pledged to return,  including Ernie Butler,  Director of Sports and Recreation for the PVA.  In all 14 sailors with disabilities participated over the two days.

Visiting and assisting with the event were Al Kovach, President of PVA, Peter Ballantyne, Executive Director of the Cal-Diego PVA Chapter and Chris Di Virgilio the PVA's photojournalist from Arizona (who with his service dog, Whitney, enjoyed time on the chase boat with Bob Dillon).

Doug Shaw gave an introductory orientation to sailing basics and terminology on both days of the event. 

PVA and Cal-Diego PVA are the new sponsors of two of CSSD's boats, as attested by their logos on two of our sails.  This Sailing Clinic was a celebration of this collaboration as well as the debut of the new sails and logos. 

 

After sailing, refreshments were provided by Golden Boy Mobility.  The event was chaired for CSSD by Maria Arroyo who is also a PVA member.  Goody bags were provided to all participants.

Special thanks to all of CSSD's companion sailors and volunteers who made this event possible!

 

Click here for great photos by Chris Di Virgilio, PN Online.

 

Save the Dates!

The 2nd Annual Kyle C. MacArthur Memorial Regatta will be held 4/30-5/1/2016.  Race from Harbor Island to Coronado Yacht Club on Saturday and race back on Sunday.

Porteous, Muse Win U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship

The 2015 US Disabled Sailing Championships were held in San Diego at Southwestern Yacht Club, August 25-29.

Congratulations to Ryan Porteous and Steve Muse on their gold medal in the double-handed championship (Martin 16) class.

​US Sailing Article

​Video by Kurt Roll, Low Altitude Films

SWYC Photo Album

​Video from SWYC

Chalk Talk #3

Doug Shaw will be giving a briefing about safety on Saturday, August 8, at 10 a.m.  Topics will include companion sailor responsibilities, dock safety, PFDs, on-the-water safety, SD Bay caution areas, VHF radio operation, and "what to do if ...?".   

All participants, volunteers and companion sailors are encouraged to attend. Meet by the entrance to Dock D, Sunroad Resort Marina, 955 Harbor Island Dr. San Diego 92101

New Resources Page

We've added a new Resources page to the Challenged Sailors San Diego website to provide links to useful information such as weather, navigation charts, sailing tutorials, Martin 16 tips, other adaptive sailing programs and transportation options.  Check it out here and let us know if you have any suggestions for other links to include.

Pics of PLYC Fleet Captains Race

Great photos of the Point Loma Yacht Club's Fleet Captains (4 Buoy) Fiasco race, including our Martins 16s, at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cynthiasinclairphoto/sets/72157653007820261/with/17796656961/ courtesy of Cynthia Sinclair.

Chalk Talk #2

Jane Dunn will be giving a talk about "Racing Tips and Strategies" on Saturday, June 6, at 10 am.  Topics will include race preparation, boat handling skills, tactics and strategies for getting around the course quickly, and ways to use the racing rules to your advantage. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Meet by the entrance to Dock D, Sunroad Resort Marina, 955 Harbor Island Dr. San Diego 92101

PLYC Fleet Captains (4 Buoy) Fiasco Race

Point Loma Yacht Club has generously invited Challenged Sailors San Diego to participate in their Fleet Captains (4 Buoy) Fiasco Race this coming Saturday, 5/16/15.  This is a fun race in which you choose your own course around the four buoys in any order and any direction!   This is a great race for new or less than serious racers.  

A special one-design start for the Martin 16s will take place shortly after the noon start for the spinnaker and non-spinnaker classes.  In order to get to the starting area in a timely manner, we will meet at Sunroad Resort Marina, Dock D at 11:00 instead of our usual noon time.  

After the race, everyone is also invited to PLYC at 1880 Harbor Is. Dr. for the after-race party and awards presentation.

The Sailing Instructions (SI) and Entry Form are available at http://www.pointlomayachtclub.org/Fleet-Captains-Race.html.  PHRF requirements are not applicable since we will be racing as a one-design class and the entry form may be turned in at the after-race party (at which time you will know your sail number).

Come enjoy a fun, informal race in the north bay.   Send an email to scheduler@challengedsailors.org to sign up for sailing on Saturday and reserve a Martin.

Colin Smith wins Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta

Congratulations to Colin Smith who won both races and took overall top honors in the inaugural Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta.  Special thanks to all the volunteers, donors and sponsors who made this event possible.

Full race results are available here.

Sailing Instructions Available for Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta

The Sailing Instructions (SI), including race courses, for the Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta are now available on the regatta webpage.  You can find other useful information there, including links to the Racing Rules of Sailing, navigation charts, route diagrams, weather, tide and current information.  Also posted are notes from a clinic given by Don Martin (the designer of the boats we're racing!) on setup and trimming of the Martin 16.

Fernanda Castelo wins the Dash to Chula Vista 2015

Congratulations to overall (and both races) winner Fernanda Castelo and all the participants in last weekend's Dash to Chula Vista 2015.  Special thanks to all the volunteers, donors and sponsors who made this event possible.

Full results are available here
.

Great Donations Will Bring Excitement to Raffles & Silent Auction

Click here to see the wonderful donors, sponsors and supporters who helped make the Dash to Chula Vista and Kyle C. McArthur Regatta possible and contributed items to the raffles and silent auction.

Raffles and Silent Auction to Raise Funds for Sails

Raffles and a Silent Auction will be held at both the DASH to Chula Vista and the Kyle C. McArthur Regatta.   Funds raised will go towards buying new sails for our 8 Martin 16 sailboats.  Credit cards, checks and cash will be accepted.

Raffle items include theater tickets, gift certificates to museums, fine restaurants and beautiful sailing themed jewelry for men and women and more.  Raffle drawings will be held at each regatta's after-race party.

Silent Auction items include fine art (including an original watercolor by local artist Morgan Gunderson of the Martin 16s sailing toward the Coronado Bridge), prints by Thomas Kinkade, cruises from Flagship, Hornblower, and Jamie McArthur, a land survey by Casey Lynch of Burkett and Wong Engineers, wine basket, spa basket, beach basket and many more.  Bids on the silent auction items may be made at both regattas.  Winners will be determined at the after-race party April 19.

Sailing Instructions for Dash to CV now available

The Sailing Instructions (SI), including course details, for the Dash to Chula Vista 2015 are now available at http://www.challengedsailors.org/dash-to-chula-vista-2015.html.   Here you will also find the Notice of Race (NOR) and an amendment to it.  All participants and companion sailors should review these materials before the regatta.

There are also links to other useful information like the Racing Rules of Sailing, starting sequence, navigation charts, and weather, tide and current predictions.

Entries open for Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta

April 18 & 19 will be the inaugural Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta hosted by Coronado Yacht Club.

This regatta, honoring Kyle's memory, will start from near Harbor Island at noon on Saturday, April 18, and finish at the Coronado Yacht Club in Glorietta Bay. A burger burn at the YC is being planned.  Details TBD.

The next day, April 19, racers will return to Coronado YC for the start of race two at 1:00pm from Glorietta Bay to the finish line near Harbor Island. Following the completion of the race on Sunday there will be a reception and awards presentation at the Sunroad Marina pavillon.

The Notice of Race including entry instructions and additional information is now available at http://www.challengedsailors.org/kyle-c-mcarthur-memorial-regatta.html

​

Entries are now open for Dash to CV

Ready for a different type of Martin 16 Race? Get prepared, Martin 16 sailors, novice and experienced alike. April 11 & 12 will be the fourth Dash to Chula Vista.

The Dash to Chula Vista is a great opportunity to experience a distance race from the North Bay to the South Bay (approximately 8 nautical miles) and back and learn much more about sailing a Martin 16. This will be a fun event for everyone: sailors, volunteers, family members and friends. 

The Notice of Race including entry instructions and additional information is now available at http://www.challengedsailors.org/dash-to-chula-vista-2015.html.

​

Save the Dates!

Participants, companion sailors and other volunteers:  mark your calendar now for TWO great two-day regattas.  

April 11-12 our Martin 16s will race 8 nautical miles to Chula Vista and back in the Challenged Sailors San Diego 2015 Dash to Chula Vista hosted by Chula Vista Yacht Club.  

The following weekend, April 18-19 will see the Martin 16s race to Glorietta Bay and back in the Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta at Coronado Yacht Club to Benefit Challenged Sailors San Diego.  

Watch our website at www.challengedsailors.org for the Notices of Race, registration procedure and further information to come in the near future.

CSSD Update Meeting, Sat. 3/7

Challenged Sailors San Diego Update Meeting

SATURDAY MARCH 7th, 2015, we will be having a meeting to update all interested participants and volunteers. We will meet at:

 

Sunroad Resort Marina

955 Harbor Island Drive

San Diego, CA 92101

 

GATE 1 (west end of Sunroad Marina parking lot)

 

TIME: 10:00-11:00

 

AGENDA

Challenged Sailors San Diego, Inc.

March 7, 2015 10am-11am

- Call to order (Kevin)

- Introductions of all present

- Update on status of boat titles, marina and insurance (Kevin)

- Treasurer's report (Sylvia)

- Fundraising discussion (Kevin/Maria)

• Pledges and donations
• Forming committee to approach yacht clubs/sponsors/donors
• Public speakers/outreach group

- Report on Tom Kirwan Dash to Chula Vista (Gail and Committee)

- Report on Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta at Coronado Yacht Club(Jamie and Committee)

- Report on website, social media and PayPal (Doug)

- Proposal for monthly Chalk Talks (Kevin)

- New business

FAQs

We have added a new page to the Challenged Sailors San Diego website answering many Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).  Click on "About Us" and then the sub-menu "FAQs".

Follow CSSD on Twitter

Follow ChallengedSailorsSD (@ChallSailSD) on Twitter keep up to date with the very latest news from Challenged Sailors San Diego.

Facebook Page Live

The Challenged Sailors San Diego Facebook page is now live (https://www.facebook.com/challengedsailors).  Like us and share the page with your friends.  This is a great way to help spread the word about our program.

Join us at the Sunroad Boat Show this weekend

Challenged Sailors San Diego will have an information booth at the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show, January 22-25, 2015.  If you're at the show, be sure to stop by our booth and say hello.

http://bigbayboatshow.com/
Sunroad Resort Marina
955 Harbor Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

CSSD Meeting 2/7 - Save the Date

Challenged Sailors San Diego Update Meeting

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7th, 2015, we will be having a meeting to update all interested participants and volunteers. We will meet at:

 

Sunroad Resort Marina

955 Harbor Island Drive

San Diego, CA 92101

 

GATE 1 (west end of Sunroad Marina parking lot)

 

TIME: 10:00-12:00

 

We look forward to seeing you there with great ideas & suggestions. Below is the agenda and if you have something that you would like to add then please let me know and I can do that for you.

 

Many thanks.

 

Sue Taetzsch

Scheduler

 

Agenda:

1. Report from Mike/Sylvia about boats, bills/finances volunteers etc..

2. Report from Sue about scheduling

3. Report from Doug about website/brochure, etc.

4. Results of Mission Edge Application (Kevin)

5. Status of CSSD Non-profit application (Kevin)

6. Report from Boat Show

7. Dash to Chula Vista

8. Report  from meeting with PVA leaders (Kevin or Maria)

9. New Business