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Challenged America Offers Free Sailing Lessons to Disabled

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

After 31 years of making dreams come true, Challenged America, a charitable learn-to-sail program, is inviting the public to an open house on Sunday, March 1, at its new location on Shelter Island. The organization has helped thousands of disabled children and adults take to the water since its inception in 1978 by two San Diego disabled veterans.

"Everyone else is cutting back and here we are expanding and hiring and moving forward," said Urban Miyares, co-founder of Challenged America.

The open house will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m at Shelter Cove Marina, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 108 (map). Visitors can view the 12 small and large sailboats used during the lessons and learn about many of the adaptive sailing technologies available and developed by Challenged America. The programs are offered free of charge, Miyares said.

Challenged America will also introduce its latest innovation for an in-boat elevator, which was designed by engineering students at San Diego State University, School of Engineering. The elevator will be used on the group's official racing sailboat, the B'Quest II, which will travel 2,225 miles from Los Angeles to Honolulu with a disabled crew at the helm in July.  This year, 30 candidates from around the world applied to be part of the 2009 Challenged America Transpac Team, but only 10 will be selected for the final voyage, Miyares said.

This year's team will be the third to make the journey.

Challenged America is funded by charitable donations and contributions from the general public, businesses, foundations, and fundraising events. The Port of San Diego granted Challenged America $15,000 in financial assistance in 2005-2006 fiscal year.

Reservations for upcoming classes are being taken.  A schedule can be obtained by calling the sailing office at 619-523-9318, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .