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<font size=3>Hi Sonar Sailors,<br><br>
I am sending this email to the entire Sonar fleet, as they have
participated in disabled sailing events last year, and know the Sonar
boat, which would be helpful to the 3 teams who are new to Sonars.<br>
<br>
I have been communicating with Peter Goldman, son of the late Judd
Goldman, who founded the Judd Goldman Foundation's disabled sailing
program in Chicago many years ago. They not only teach disabled
people to sail in Chicago, but also hold a prestigious regatta in
association with the Chicago Yacht Club. The regatta is called the
North American Challenge Cup (NACC) which has been sailed in Freedom 20's
(a specially designed boat for disabled people), Sonars, and 2.4
meters. Sonar attendance has been dropping in the last few years,
because the requirements have been that every participating sailor must
be a qualified disabled person. Peter and I have been talking about
opening up the Sonar class so that able-bodied people could sail on the
boats with at least one disabled person, which is the way almost all of
the disabled regattas that we attend operate. A decision has been
made, and beginning in 2010, the Sonar class will be required to have
only one disabled person on board, but will still sail under the rules of
Appendix B (no spinnaker).<br>
<br>
I told Peter that we have 4 people with qualified disabilities sailing at
the WYC, plus one or two of the Team Captain Hook crew with
disabilities. The question that I asked Peter was, did he want 4
teams of Sonar sailors from Minnesota (3 of which would have 1 disabled
person on board), or did he want more disabled people on board, and fewer
boats. He indicated that they would rather have more boats.<br>
<br>
They have 11 Sonars available for charter in Chicago (no charter fee for
this regatta), and all the necessary bars and specialty benches to
provide the adaptations for sailors with disabilities who need them.<br>
<br>
American Airlines will provide free air transportation for participants,
and there is a special rate of $175 per room at the Hilton Hotel.
Each room could hold up to 5 people with cots and sharing. Daily
bus transportation is provided to and from the Chicago Yacht Club's
Belmont Harbor station. The regatta begins with a clinic on Friday
(coached by Betsy Alison), August 6<sup>th</sup>, and racing August
7<sup>th, </sup>8<sup>th </sup>and 9<sup>th</sup>. There is an
elegant fundraising dinner to which the competitors are encouraged to
attend on Friday night. There is also a wonderful trophy banquet
included at the Chicago Yacht Club on Monday night. I must say the
competitors are treated like royalty.<br>
<br>
It would seem to me that if there is interest from the WYC sailors
receiving this email, we have the possibility of supplying 4 WYC Sonars
to the event. We will tow Captain Hook, and 3 other boats could be
chartered. Therefore, the people with disabilities currently
sailing at the WYC could sail in the NACC with 2 members of their regular
crew, and enjoy a great regatta at reduced cost without the need to tow
their own boat.<br>
<br>
These 4 teams possibly could be made up of:<br>
Team #1, Team Captain Hook with regular crew<br>
Team #2, Angie Ostbye with Jack and another crew<br>
Team #3, Leonard MacKinnon with Carmella & Ernie<br>
Team #4, Beth Rosenberger, Susan Sundell and another crew<br>
<br><br>
<br>
I have talked with Dallas about the possibility of the yacht club
providing some clothing specifically labeled "WYC Disabled Sailing
Team", so that the entire group could proudly prance around the
Chicago Yacht Club in their WYC gear.<br>
<br>
If this turns out to be fun and successful, there is the possibility that
in future years, the WYC could host a disabled event.<br>
<br>
Would appreciate you emailing me, or calling me, with your comments.<br>
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