Disabled Sailing—Organizers Have As Much Fun
by Bill Sandberg
How many regattas have you run, where you had as much fun as, or more than, the competitors? Try adaptive sailing.
The weekend of June 6-7, American Yacht Club served as host for the first annual Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta presented by Heineken. I was fortunate to have been a member of the organizing committee and served as PRO.
The regatta was sailed in 22 specially adapted Ideal 18s provided by AYC, our co-hosts Larchmont YC and Indian Harbor YC. As the disabled sailors had to remain in a seat while sailing, each adaptation was specially designed and built. Want to steer with your right hand? The skipper’s seat was to port and the crew to starboard. Buttons Padin and his artful craftsman from LYC put together and installed 24 sets of adaptations—leaving us an additional 2 for spare boats.
Able bodied crews (ABs) were provided for stability, safety and to perform functions that the sailors may not have been able to handle due to their disability.
20 disabled teams and two teams of blind sailors competed, and the competition was fierce, with most boats up and down in the standings the entire regatta. When the smoke cleared, the winners were US SAILING Team AlphaGraphics member Mark Leblanc, with crew Alex Streb. His AB? Tim Angle, himself a disabled sailor and also a member of USSTAG. Each person was missing an arm, so they were the self-dubbed “3 handed team”. Starting to get the idea these folks have a sense of humor?
The idea was a spinoff of the US Disabled Championships held at AYC and co-hosted by LYC last year. Sailors told us they didn’t need all the accouterments, just more venues and a chance to sail in a large fleet.
Including the blind sailors, who don’t often sail in disabled regattas, raised come issues. We were trying to equalize the boats by requiring that the sailors stay in their seats. They were not able to move side to side, nor get on the rail—only the AB could do that. I received an inquiry from Tufts coach Ken Legler to see if we would allow the blind sailors to sit on the rail, as that is how they are able to steer, by feeling the wind on their face. In fact when they sail downwind, they face aft for just that reason. I was concerned that would give them and edge on the disabled sailors. Ken’s response was he would be happy to have the blinds sit in the boat if the disabled sailors would be willing to sail blindfolded. That would have been an interesting idea.
But what do the organizers get that is unique? How about inspiration for one. While some were born without an arm or a leg, most either were diagnosed with a disease or suffered an accident as adults. They have every right to crawl into a cocoon, stay at home and be angry with the world. However sailing allows them to get out and do something that is fun and makes them complete. In fact sailing is the only sport where able bodied and disabled athletes can compete on an equal basis, They have the most positive attitudes on life and wonderful senses of humor. If that isn’t inspirational, I don’t know what is.
On a personal note, my houseguests for the weekend were my old friend Dr. Ted King and his wife Margie. Ted and I raced Lightnings against each other as kids and sailed thousands of miles together offshore, including 5 Newport-Bermuda Races. Six years ago, Ted suffered a stroke, and had another two years ago, leaving him with partial paralysis on his left side and some brain damage. The Robie Pierce Regatta was to be his first regatta since his stroke. He was excited, and yes, a little nervous. Not only did he have a wonderful time participating and had the start of the fleet in the last race, but he is the newest fan of disabled sailing. He will likely join Anne Allen’s team of classifiers, combining his medical and sailing backgrounds; is looking into starting an adaptive sailing program in Maine; and has set as a personal goal to go to the Paralympics in England in 2012. Ted always did set the bar high
A sense of humor? They have cornered the market. Last year I asked the person handling PR for the event to call my friend Hugh Elliot for a quote. Hugh is a double leg amputee, and was to be our Chief Judge for the US Disabled Sailing Championship. He told her that one of the best things about being a double leg amputee is that he doesn’t get blisters on his feet from new shoes. She hasn’t stopped laughing yet.
How about appreciative? How many times in an able bodied regatta does each competitor take the time to seek out the race committee and organizers to express their thanks? I’m sure Messrs Ellison and Bertarelli do it all the time. Sure.
They also thank sponsors. Despite the comments of some Neanderthals about sponsorship in one of my recent columns, they are important. Without the financial support of our friends at Heineken, we could not have afforded to put on this regatta without substantially increasing the entry fee. For $125/crew they received a four hour clinic from Dave Dellenbaugh, breakfast and lunch for three days, a free boat to us and free Heineken beer. As I write this, three days after the regatta ended, the majority have already sent notes of thanks to both Heineken and their local distributor.
To me the crux of the matter was summed up by one competitor who said, “you can’t deal with life if you see yourself as a disabled person. You can deal with it when you understand that you are a person, who happens to have a disability.”
I would ask readers of this column to talk with their yacht club or sailing facility and see what they can do to add an adaptive sailing program or regatta. It’s good for the sailors and good for our sport. And you know what? You’ll find it’s good for you. You will have more fun and reap more personal rewards than you can ever imagine.
