Last May (2023), as I watched a man my age being lifted out of his wheelchair and into a sailboat at the Baltimore Downtown Sailing Center, my eyes just about filled with tears. He couldn't move his arms or legs due to the disability that he's lived with his entire life, but he sure could make a smile. I saw several others being lifted out of their wheelchairs and into 2-person sailboats that were specially designed to be accessible to people with disabilities (Hansa Access 303 Dinghies). Once on the water, they sailed freely, catching the wind and heading wherever they wanted, entirely unassisted. It was incredible to see their confidence and skill in action.

Watching these skilled sailors enjoy their time on the water was truly inspiring. The caregivers supporting them, whether parents, partners, or friends, were equally inspiring. It’s clear that everyday life presents many challenges for them, and yet they make time for this joyful experience on the water, which reminded me that my own challenges are manageable.

The mission of the Baltimore Downtown Sailing Center (DSC) is to provide quality educational and life enriching programs that promote self-esteem and teamwork through the joy of sailing. The Downtown Sailing Center is committed to promoting an environment of inclusiveness and accessibility, especially to youth, persons with disabilities, and those with limited opportunity.

Every year, the DSC has a fundraiser called Ya Gotta Regatta, and it's a full day of sailboat races. Some of the races are open to all sailboats, and some of the races are restricted to participants with disabilities. The funds raised through Ya Gotta Regatta ensure that the club is able to continue all the community outreach and accessibility programs. You can read more about the event here:

https://downtownsailing.org/ygr

Last year I volunteered for the Ya Gotta Regatta and was truly inspired by a man I sailed with. He had one prosthetic arm and one prosthetic leg. This year, on Saturday, September 28th, I will be skippering one of the Sonar sailboats and coaching some of the disabled participants. To that end, I started a fundraising team to help raise funds.

Now, I have to confess that I don't do fundraisers for myself or my family members. Ever. They just annoy me. We've never asked family or friends to buy candy bars, cookies, or popcorn to raise money for sports teams. Those kinds of fundraisers make me feel uncomfortable, because I feel like it's just asking for handouts to subsidize something I should be paying for myself and not burdening other people with. For that reason, I really hesitated to post this at all.

But here's the thing. This fundraiser isn't about other people subsidizing my sailing hobby. I pay annual club dues that cover the cost of membership, insurance, and keep the boats maintained and the club running. This fundraiser is about creating opportunities that otherwise wouldn't exist for inner city youth and disabled people. It takes full-time staff to coordinate the youth summer camps and run the accessibility program, and staff gotta feed their families!

If you made it this far, thank you for reading! If you don't feel like donating, no problem! You're not a bad person, and it's okay! If you do feel like donating a few dollars, please use the link below. My goal is $100/ft and the boat is 23 ft long, so $2300.