The rejuvenation of the boats is coming along beautifully. A special thanks to Mike Swall. A group maintenance day is scheduled for Saturday March 13th, we hope to get several hands to continue the revamping of the Martins and the Capri and Beneteau as well.

TASK LIST

• Remove remainder of old names from Martin hulls and buff out (can anyone bring buffers?)

• Clean up glue on Martin #6

• Replace broken or missing shackles

• Replace halyards and sheets as needed

• Replace steering lines and traveller lines as needed

• Install line bags on Martins

• Buff out hulls on Capri and Beneteau

• Hand rails on Beneteau need stripped, sanded and varnished

WISH LIST FOR DAY

• 10 - Small Dock Cleats 4"-5"

• 4  - Big B Fenders

• Shackles

• New hayards and sheets

• Velcro with Adhesive Back

• Supplies for hand rail brightwork (scraper, sandpaper, varnish, etc.)

You'd think February was winter in San Diego.   Except our winter in San Diego is the envy of the rest of the nation.    We did actually have to cancel sailing days twice due to rain.  Our Winter Regatta, originally re-scheduled from January, was sailed on Feb. 13^th with lots of wind and lots of other boats to share the bay with.  Tammy Airhart, sailing in her first regatta, with companion Jane Dunn took first place with two first places and a 3^rd.  Loch Crane with companion Sylvia Swall delighted in the big winds and finished in second place.  Sue Taetzsch sailing with new companion sailor, Alison Hall, accumulated enough points to finish 3^rd.  Tami Ridley and Doug Shaw didn't start the last race and finished 4^th.   This marks Martin Regatta 1 of 10 with our final race in December.  We'll have a year end party with awards going to the best cumulative score for the ten races.   Be sure to sign up for Martin Regatta #2 scheduled for April 10, 2010.

B'Quest II has also been on the racing scene with Dennis Conner as guest skipper, each time sailing with Challenged America members on board.  So far, Lyle Lundberg, Urban Miyares, Kevin Wixom, Gordo Parham and Steve Edenson have all experienced racing with one of the best sailors in the world.  Following are excerpts from an editorial written by Gordo about his experience: 

Arriving at the dock a little early, I find the crew preparing  Bequest II.   The engine is running, lines are out, blocks set up, sheets routed, sails un-bagged, spinnakers being tied with yarn, supplies stowed and everything readied.  Two winches were taken apart, the inners cleaned and re-lubed because they didn't "feel just right;" definitely the mark of a highly seasoned professional crew.    Time to get underway.   Dock lines are un-chocked, we push off and  "Hey the engine isn't running.  Why are we sailing out with only the mainsail?"  The crew responds, "Prop alignment, Gordo.  The prop has been set for the minimal drag and if we have to use the engine that advantage will be gone."   I had forgotten this and as I said, part of the "ride" is a learning experience and part of learning is to remember what you've learned.   Out in the open water of San Diego Bay, up goes the jib - we are moving - the wind has been poor for days, the forecast shows improvement and this is getting good.   We were told this boat wants 10 knots of wind and above 12 it's hard to beat.  Down to the east end of Harbor Island to check in with the committee boat and discover what course the race will be.  The start area is always one of the exciting parts of any regatta with many boats jockeying for optimal positions crossing the starting line when the horn blows.   I was given the race start watch to call out the accurate times as we made starting line passes, narrowly missing other boats -sometimes almost touchingly close- as we approached our start time.  "Not so loud Gordo, we don't need to have others hear our times."  Once again this is in part a learning experience, so change your ways. Counting down in one minute intervals, then 15 seconds, finally every second 15 > 0 and we're crossing the start line at full speed one second after the horn blows -perfect!  Put away the watch and move to the starboard rail as ballast -my expected position for most of the race - "rail meat."  Upwind to the first mark near Shelter Island and we're  out in front -ahead of one of our archrivals, FrenchBred-a Beneteau First 44.7. BQ2 seems to scream close-hauled, but downwind loses back some of the upwind gains. Not knowing what to expect, Lyle Lundberg, the other Challenged America member, and I were ready for anything from as little as a ride along rail meat to "whatever" so we were happy to find ourselves being in the mix of operations. Among several miscellaneous tasks it was great to be rigging and trimming the tweaker on spinnaker jibes rather than just riding along.  It's Spin time, and up goes a spinnaker, pop pop pop goes the darning yarn that's holding it together looking like a long sausage tube to ease hauling it up and the chute is flying full and looking beautiful.  

The tide is ebbing and the current today is strong so we're going to stay as close to NAS North Island as is reasonable for the long downwind run to under the Coronado bridge and beyond -further into South Bay than I've ever raced.   When I say "as close to NAS North Island as is reasonable" I was in for a breath holding surprise.  BQ2 draws nine and a half feet of water -a deep draft boat-and we're heading between the cement pilings that long ago supported a pier and land; this is gutsy, but the readings on the GPS say we can make it and make it and we did. Nobody else chanced the more direct line and even though downwind isn't our forte we didn't give up any noticeable distance, yet. Jibe, jibe, jibe.  Spinnaker jibes can be a challenge to many a sailor, sometimes taking a minute or more, but not here and now -this is a seasoned crew. On this downwind leg we did no less than 24 -maybe as many as 28- spinnaker jibes.  Nearing the bridge we did three spin jibes in less than 90 seconds.   Rounding the leeward mark, we're still ahead but not by as far now -less than a hundred yards, but it's another windward leg for a long uphill ride and here Bequest II shines.  Out in front from start to finish  -  #1.

Why, you may ask, is Dennis Conner, known throughout the world as "Mr. America's Cup," using a boat owned by Challenged America?   Dennis had raced against this boat many times in the past, then named VIM, and always recognized the potential for high performance.  In Dennis' words "he's just out there having fun sailing a great boat."   In March, Challenged America members Hiro Iwamoto and Bill Barber will have the opportunity to sail with Dennis.  Dennis will not be sailing our BQ II much after the month of March, but limited opportunities are still available.  If you're interested, be sure to call and schedule a date.

Finally, we owe a big "thank you" to Mike and Sylvia Swall.   Mike, with Sylvia's help, has spent countless  hours, both here at the docks, in his shop, and scouring local marine stores for shackles, hinges, steering cords and the like to make repairs to our Martin 16's.   Mike and Sylvia also purchased, and donated to Challenged America, a brand new mainsail for the Capri 22. AND THEN, Mike, Sylvia and their friends Stan and Sally Bolle visiting from out of town, unstepped the Capri's mast, bent on the new main, added a windvane, and restepped the mast.   Now all she needs is a name.

It's been a great February!  Hope to see more of all of you in March.

-Carolyn Sherman, Program Director

 DOUG SHAW

Doug first became involved with Challenged America during the first year of the VA Summer Sports Clinic in 2008.  He read an article in a local newspaper which mentioned the need for volunteers and the rest is history.   He made contact to be a companion sailor and sailed, as a companion, almost for the entire week of the 2008 Summer Sports Clinic.  In the meantime, Doug has become a regular companion sailor, including adding another week at the 2009 Summer Sports Clinic.  By now he has probably sailed with almost all of our participants.  His patience and familiarity with all levels of disabilities is heartwarming.    As an instructor he combines that patience with his skills as a sailor so that every participant gains knowledge and enjoyment each and every time they sail with him.   We can always count on Doug to be here when we need companions and can be completely confident in his abilities to provide a positive experience for each participant.   In addition to sailing as a companion on the Martins, Doug has also supported our sailors with disabilities on our flagship "B'Quest II", the Kiwi 35 "Lift Off", and our Capri 22. 

Doug's volunteering hours don't stop on the water.   He is frequently here whenever we have maintenance days and assists with the "repair of the day."    Sometimes the "repair of the day" involves our computers here in the office and we are grateful for the time he volunteers in assisting with that also.

You can know Doug best in his own words: "Interacting with such a great bunch of people has been both educational and inspirational.  What could be better than participating in a great sport that I thoroughly enjoy while helping others at the same time?"  

Thanks Doug, for all you do.