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By Airwaves writer Gretchen Croll

One of the best aspects of the sport of sailing is the accessibility it offers to people of all ages and backgrounds.  Most sailors develop a lifetime passion for this sport which allows such great interaction with nature while still fostering great competition.  Though the sport of sailing is physically demanding, there are many associations and organizations which cater to the physically handicapped in order to spread the joy of sailing and the outdoors to more people. 

                Sailing is a unique sport due to the symbiotic relationship its participants form with Mother Nature.  There are few other sports which so easily combine man’s technological advancements with the force of the wind in order to gain power.  This provides sailor’s with an insight into the natural world which most sportsmen cannot develop and allows for an experience that can open one’s soul no matter their situation.  This connection to innovation and technology is what makes sailing a good choice for individuals with physical disabilities.  Due to the physical limitations many of the participants in an adaptive sailing program, special boats must be designed in order to accommodate these special needs. This allows for a great deal of innovation in boat design and function which can help further the sport of sailing as a whole as well as provide opportunities for people with limited movement. Most boats can be adapted for disabled individuals with only a few modifications. However there are an ever greater number of boats being designed specifically for disabled sailors. This is an encouraging trend and bodes well for the future of adaptive sailing as a whole.  Since while sailing an individual is confined to a relatively small space, there is only a limited amount of movement that can occur.  These movements can be easily anticipated and accommodated for through advanced technology and modifications made to the vessel.  For example, most boats adapted for people with disabilities have seats which can move from one side of the boat to the other in response to changing wind speed as well as tacks and gybes. 

But there is more to adaptive sailing than the technological advances it offers which allow individuals the chance to participate.  Sailing also offers a unique feeling of power and freedom to the participant.  This is an important feeling in every person who participates in any sport, but is even more poignant for individuals who have been confined and limited by a lack of physical mobility.  Being surrounded by open water while in charge of your own vessel can be a life changing moment for individuals involved in an adaptive sailing program. 

There are many such programs throughout the country, and all can be found in the link included at the end of this article.  One such program, The Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, located in Burnham Harbor in Chicago, IL is a particularly great example due to the history of its founding.  The Foundation was started in 1990 by the family of Judd Goldman.   Judd suffered from a debilitating bone disease when he was 17 which severely limited his range of movement.  Though he wanted to be involved in sports, he found that many were not available to him because of his disability, but sailing was not one of them.  Judd became an avid sailor and even participated in some long distance racing.  This program also sets a great example by involving the community in the program.  This program is a public/private foundation partnered with the Chicago Park District.  The Park District operates the program on a day to day basis while the foundation raises all the money needed to keep things ship-shape.

The Goldman Foundation’s adaptive sailing program gets around 1000 participants every year and offers 15 hours (six 2.5 hour lessons) of sailing training for only $100.  This offer is for beginner and intermediate sailors, in fact, many of the testimonials on the foundation’s website are from people who had never sailed before in their life.  Many speak of the freedom and independence that sailing has given them after they thought they would never have a normal life again.  The foundation, in partnership with the Chicago Yacht Club even started the North American Challenge Cup (NACC) which is a large regatta hosted for sailors with disabilities.  The foundation caters to all skill sets and comfort levels of sailors, from a leisurely cruise to more competitive racing, they have the instruction to get you there and the vessels which match each particular skill set. 

There is another important aspect of adaptive sailing which can sometimes be overlooked.   Adaptive sailing also provides a great many opportunities for sailors who participated in and loved the sport of sailing before they suffered an accident or injury which left them with a life changing disability.  Allowing these individuals the chance to still participate in the sport they love is a great service which should not be overlooked. 

All in all, adaptive sailing is a great way to bring new participants to the sport of sailing and to give a great variety of individuals the experience of freedom and independence on the water.  The values of such programs are multi-faceted and deserve our support. 

Please donate to an adaptive sailing program in your area if you can.  You will be helping to change a life.

http://adaptive.ussailing.org/Where_to_Sail.htm

Sources:

http://www.sailing.org/sailors/disabled/about-ifds.php

http://www.juddgoldmansailing.org/adaptive_sailing.html

http://www.blindsailing.org/index.php

http://adaptive.ussailing.org/ResourceManual.htm

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by Silence Dogood

Recently I came upon this letter from Bruce Kirby, discussing his plans for a new sailboat, the Kirby Torch. To understate substantially, and to make what must be a very long story short, problems exist(ed) between the designer (Bruce Kirby) and the builder and owner of the name “Laser”, LaserPerformance. It is now to the point where there will be another boat built, that is exactly like a “Laser”, but will be called the “Kirby Torch.” Maybe things will work out fine, and eventually Lasers will sail next to, and with, Kirby Torches without trouble. But why does this have to happen?

Since the Laser is such an important class in one-design sailing from youth training to the Olympics to adult club racing, it is in the best interests of the parties involved to settle this in an adult, professional, and simple manner. This is not Apple vs. Samsung; this is embarrassing.

Sailing (with the possible exception of the grand prix and America’s Cup level) simply isn’t big enough for overstuffed egos, lawsuits, and enduring bad blood, especially when we are talking about a boat whose partial mission is to train youth sailors. This is not a good role model image to set for kids, who will ask whether they should sail a torch or a laser, and then ask why they need to ask that question. What’s the answer? “Well, it’s complicated… you see… there are lawsuits…” 

Even the Laser class, as large as it is, will find difficulty navigating through this. There are really great alternatives out there (Byte, etc). In fact, it is a great testament to the people of the Laser class that they have kept this boat relevant, as old and as inefficient as it is by today’s design standards. The sailors are by far the most important ingredient, they keep the boat’s magic alive, and really are the lifeblood of this organization. Let’s let them sail the boat.

Regardless of who is “right” in the legal battles and lawsuits, I would venture to guess that neither party will win in the court of public opinion by splitting the world’s most popular Olympic one-design class. Bruce Kirby designed one of the iconic one-design sailboats of all time, and has every right to be compensated if that is what the signed documents say. LaserPerformance works hard to produce quality boats for youth sailors and more, and supports youth, high school, and college sailing, sailings pipeline heartbeat. Who’s right? Who cares. Pay bills, work together, and let kids and senior citizens, and everyone else in between, get back on the water in their Laser.

Enough already.

From Bruce Kirby: IT’S  THE  BOAT  THAT  MATTERS,  NOT  THE  NAME

       In an attempt to rescue the Laser Class from its downhill course of the past few years I have reluctantly decided that a name change, or re-branding is necessary.  During the past three or four years dealers have had difficulty getting timely delivery of boats, and in particular, of parts.  We have had calls and e-mails from various parts of the world asking if there is anything that can be done to save the Laser.  To give some idea how critical the situation with Lasers has become  (as of mid-April, 2013) there is a boat shop in Toronto which has 52 American-built Lasers that have been brought in for repairs of various kinds.

       Laser Performance in both Europe and North America own the name LASER and the sunburst symbol on the sail, but they don’t own the boat.  Because I am owed quite a bit of money by these firms in unpaid design royalties it has been possible for me to terminate their building rights at both factories.

       What the Laser sailing public must try to get their heads around is that it is not the name of the boat that matters, It is the boat itself – that 13’ 10” bit of fiberglass and aluminum   that provides us with untold pleasure.  I love the name Laser.  I was there in the beginning when then builder Ian Bruce came up with it.  I have lived with it and revered it for more than 40 years…but I know that if the boat is to be saved it must have a new name.

       Laser Performance were terminated as builders last year, but the lawsuit was filed this year because production of the Laser unlawfully continued after termination.  The International Laser Class Association  (ILCA) in lock step with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) participated in this unlawful manufacture by refusing to stop issuing Laser Performance the stick-on ISAF plaques that are attached to the inside of the aft face of the cockpit, identifying the boat as an authorized Kirby Sailboat permitted to be used in Laser class and ISAF sanctioned events. 

       I have tried to work with ILCA and ISAF on rebranding the boat, but they refused and demanded instead that I get a Court Order.  So they are named in the lawsuit.  After filing of the lawsuit, ISAF initially asked ILCA to stop issuing ISAF plaques to Laser Performance, but I don’t yet know if ILCA complied.  In a new twist, ISAF and ILCA now seem prepared to issue a new version of the plaque to Laser Performance which removes my name from my own design.  This is not only against the Laser Construction Manual which ISAF and ILCA claim to hold Builders to, thereby insuring a true one-design class, but also reveals their true strategy to steal my design. The irony in all of this is that by continuing to provide plaques to Laser Performance against my wishes and our contracts, both ISAF and ILCA continue to collect money from Laser Performance for every boat made even while I am not being paid the design royalty.

       In any event, all builders of the Laser have been terminated and the Kirby Sailboat will only be lawfully built under the Kirby Torch brand.  This does not violate any prior agreement I have with ISAF and ILCA since they explicitly only relate to manufacture of the Kirby Sailboat under the Laser brand. ILCA and ISAF have trumped up a “breach” in order to push through the “Fundamental Rule” change designed to excuse nonpayment of my royalty by Laser Performance.  Their actions make their intentions clear:  Steal the Kirby Sailboat from its designer. 

New builders with stellar sailing and boat building credentials have signed agreements to follow the Construction Manual so that new Kirby Torches will be exactly like old Lasers, and both boats will be able to compete side by side under the rules of the Kirby Torch class.  We have asked ILCA to set up the Kirby Torch class, but they continue to ignore us and the Torch even though there are no longer any licensed builders for the Laser.  Go figure?!

       So if you agree that what we are doing is in the best interests of the boat, please urge ILCA and your district Laser class organizations to cooperate with us for the sake of sailors throughout the world.

 This is y
our boat.  It’s my baby, but it’s your boat.  With a simple change of the name we can offer a better quality  product, consistent delivery and the steady supply of parts. The Kirby Torch Builders and Class Association will serve sailors—that is our promise to you and the reason I am taking on this fight. The fight is about pulling the boat out of the swamp it has been dragged into and handing it back to the sailors cleaned up and ready to move ahead for another 50 years.  I have been disappointed with the treatment handed to me by those who should be firmly on the side of the sailors, and so at the age of 84 I am throwing all my energy into meetings, phone calls and e-mails to save the little boat.

       Please join me in this endeavor and support the Torch.  I can no longer race with you, but I can cheer you on.

Bruce Kirby

Rowayton, Ct. U.S.A.

April 24, 2013

Read Many more blog entries here:

http://www.kirbytorch.com/news