Let’s get folks on the water and keep them safe

On July 4th, our crew of amateur sailors is taking part in the 2022 Vic-Maui International Yacht Race from Victoria, BC to Lahaina, Maui. For most of us, this will be our first offshore experience and the most significant challenge any of us have undertaken. It’s also a huge opportunity. Sailing is a fantastic way to come face-to-face with nature's power and see what you are capable of when you are given a chance.

 

This is where you come in. As a part of our race campaign, we’ve chosen to raise funds for a couple of organizations that mean a lot to us: the Adaptive Sailing Association of BC (ASABC) and the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR). We've experienced the joy of sailing and want to help others do the same – as safely as possible.

 

The vision of the Adaptive Sailing Association of BC is to empower people with physical disabilities to re-imagine what is possible. With their 8 custom-designed Martin 16 sailboats, they provide over 1000 sails each summer. They are also working to build a new, accessible dock at the Jericho Pier. We’re hoping to raise $39,125 to get them a 9th boat, providing an additional 125 opportunities for folks to learn to sail each summer.

 

The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization that operates 31 marine search and rescue stations on BC’s coast. Over 900 volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2021 alone, they participated in 515 missions that saved 86 lives and assisted another 369. They work incredibly hard to keep the public safe, and we would like to return the favour. We’re hoping to raise $9278 to help them purchase 6 new survival suits for their team.

Based on the goals we've established, the funds we raise will be split so that the Adaptive Sailing Association of BC receives 81% and the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue receives 19%.