Challenged Sailors Chosen For Tanspac

Friday, March 18, 2005

SAN DIEGO - It all began in 1991 when the founders of San Diego-based Challenged America first stated that one day, they (sailors with disabilities) would race across the Pacific Ocean in the Transpacific Yacht Race.

After two failed attempts (due to funding shortfalls) to enter the race in 1993 and 1995, this once boastful statement became a reality in 2003 when two of the original Challenged America founders (disabled veterans Bob Hettiger, paraplegic, and Urban Miyares, totally blind) realized their dream.

That dream became reality when, with three other sailors with disabilities and one able-bodied crew member (2003 Team Challenged America,) they raced 2,225 nautical miles from Los Angeles, Calif., to Honolulu, Hawaii, in the 2003 Transpac Yacht Race. The finished in a respectable 13-plus days.

Why the Transpac? The Transpacific Yacht Race is that one race every serious offshore racing sailor, and many others, want to do at least once, yet few actually do. For serious and competitive sailors with disabilities, it's the Mount Everest that needs to be climbed.

This demanding race contains all the elements of being challenged by the sea, and who can best meet such challenges. Transpac tests physical ability, stamina, sailing skills, and seamanship.

It was considered not to be a race for everyone and definitely one too dangerous and physically demanding for a crew of sailors having significant disabilities to safely accomplish independently.

That was until Team Challenged America achieved the feat in 2003.

The Transpac is a 24-hour-per-day, non-stop race requiring self-sufficiency, as sailors can be more than 1,000 miles from the nearest emergency medical assistance or other aid. Traditionally having strong 25- to 35-knot tradewinds and 10- to 14-foot cresting seas, the Transpac is one of the longest, non-stop ocean races between ports in the world, other than an around-the-world race.

The top racing sailors in the world, racing on the largest and fastest of ocean-racing yachts, are attracted to the Transpac. The 2005 Transpac, starting on July 11, is the 100th anniversary of this ocean-racing legend.

International media attention and public interest have already begun for this monumental ocean-racing classic.

“Making Waves Productions” will be filming Team Challenged America for an independent film documentary on their personal challenges to accomplish such a daunting ocean race, given their extreme physical and medical limitations, along with in-depth stories of sponsors and volunteers who have supported these amazing athletes.

The Challenged America 2005 Transpac Team has been selected.

From 44 original candidates with disabilities, living throughout the United States and Canada, Mexico, Europe, and South Africa, the six Challenged America “A” Team members are the following:

• Ryan Baker, paraplegic, San Diego, Calif.;
• Jim Halverson, leg amputee and cancer survivor, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.;
• Urban Miyares, totally blind, hearing impaired, organ transplant recipient, diabetes, San Diego, Calif.;
• Jeff Reinhold, quadriplegic, Seattle, Wash.;
• Joshua Ross, skipper, San Diego, Calif., and
• Kevin Wixom, leg amputee, San Diego, Calif.

The Challenged America Transpac “B” Team consists of the Transpac veterans from the 2003 Team and others with disabilities.

Follow the route and daily reports of the Challenged America Transpac Team on www.YachtRacing.com, beginning on July 11 and look for the ESPN Transpac Special on television in the summer or fall, with Team Challenged America sure to be spotlighted.

Challenged America was founded in the late 1970s by disabled veterans desiring to further their own rehabilitation.

Today Challenged America is a charitable program of the Disabled Businesspersons Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Providing free learn-to-sail and advanced sailing programs for kids, adults, and disabled veterans with disabilities, funding for this year-round rehabilitation program comes mainly from vessel donations and contributions by business and the general public.

The Challenged America Transpac racing boat B'Quest (a Tripp 40 sailboat) was donated to Challenged America by Brian and Suzanne Hull of Coronado, Calif. Hundreds of sailors with disabilities and their loved ones, from around the world, participate in Challenged America programs each year.

For additional information on Challenged America, to receive e-mail updates on the program and its activities, and how you or your company can support the Challenged America Transpac Team, contact Challenged America, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 206, San Diego, CA, 92106, call (619) 523-9318, e-mail ahoy@ChallengedAmerica.org, or visit www.ChallengedAmerica.org/.