Dear Members,

In conjunction with the Commodores' Cup 2007 Regatta, the Kelowna Yacht Club is pleased to announce this years fundraising drive on behalf of the Okanagan Disabled Sailing Association, a charitable organization that strives to assist disabled persons in maintaining an active lifestyle through sailing.

With your help we can make a difference for those with physical impairments who may otherwise not be in a position to take advantage of the enabling sport of leisure and competitive sailing. All corporate and individual donations collected go directly to the Okanagan D.S.A to assist with costs relating to the acquisition, operation and maintenance of specially designed sailing craft that are tailored to the needs of the disabled sailor. Help a local disabled sailor today!

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The Kelowna Yacht Club proudly presents the 33rd annual Commodores’ Cup Regatta to be held August 17th, 18th and 19th, 2007. The Commodores’ Cup is one of five regattas sponsored by Appleton Rum that comprise the Appleton Cup series held during 2007 in communities throughout the north and south Okanagan.

This years Commodores’ Cup Regatta will again function as a fund raising event on behalf of the Disabled Sailing Association, a charitable organization that strives to assist disabled persons in maintaining an active lifestyle through sailing. The Kelowna Yacht Club is sponsoring this fund raising event in the belief that member and corporate donations can make a difference to those with disabilities who may otherwise not have the ability to take part in this enabling sport.

All donations collected go directly to the Okanagan Disabled Sailing Association to help with acquisition, maintenance and ongoing costs related to operating specially designed sailing craft that are tailored to the needs of the disabled sailor. Donations for the DSA may be made at the KYC front office.

Skippers and crews are invited to take part in daily race activities and a full program of on-shore activities planned for all three days of the event.

Entry Fees

$35.00 per person. $20.00 of your $35.00 entry fee will go directly to the Okanagan Disabled Sailing Association, tax receipt included. Entry fees include all meals, entertainment and a regatta shirt.

Hosted by: the Kelowna Yacht Club, Kelowna, B.C

COURSE DIAGRAM: Revision March 27, 2007
click here for details

Sailing is Freedom and Independence

The Disabled Sailing Association of BC provides people with disabilities the opportunity to become active participants in an exciting outdoor sport.

How the Disabled Sailing Association of BC began;

The Disabled Sailing Association began with a gift. In 1988, the legendary ‘Man in Motion’ Rick Hansen presented DSA founder Sam Sullivan, Vancouver City Mayor and Order of Canada recipient, with a specially outfitted, 16-foot British Sunbird sailboat. This Sunbird became the first vessel in the association’s newly established fleet. During its first summer season in 1989 at Vancouver’s Jericho Sailing Center, DSA logged 22 sessions. The Disabled Sailing Association now boasts Canadian branches in Victoria, Kelowna, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Sarnia, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton, in addition to American affiliates in Washington, Oregon, Florida, California, Seattle, and New York.

Kelowna’s Chapter was formed in 1993 and is located at COSA’s site at Hobson Road. They have 3 Martin 16s and an Access Dinghy and have between 40 and 50 members. On average these boats combined take to the Okanagan Lake 450 times per year. Many members live on meager incomes and increasingly spending money on sailing becomes very difficult or even impossible.
By sponsoring a sail you are providing, at no cost to the sailor, the rental of the boat, the instructor, associated insurances, and maintenance costs. All monies stay local unless you specify otherwise. There is a nationwide program where one can donate money to a specific region or area; (www.ablesailnetwork.ca).

The program’s mainstay is the Martin 16. Built by world renowned boat designer, Don Martin of Vancouver, with the input of Sam Sullivan and a small group of sailors, the Martin 16 is fast, maneuverable, fun and most importantly, completely unsinkable. It allows even “high quad” sailors’ – those with little or no upper body mobility – to sail independently. Stability, adjustable seating and the option of specialized control systems such as the “sip n’ puff” mechanism make the Martin 16 accessible to even the most physically challenged sailor. See also www.martin16.com.

Racing

Once a year the Mobility Cup Regatta is sailed (www.mobilitycup.org).
For many sailors this event became their springboard into the international Disabled Sailing scene.
Canada has several Disable Sailing teams competing worldwide. Many found their start in the Mobility Cup.

Your support is very much appreciated.
Hans Van Leening, Okanagan Disabled Sailing Association