The 49th annual Wheelchair Regatta, hosted by the Silver Gate Yacht Club (SGYC), is set to get rolling Sunday, June 8. The club is located at 2901 Shelter Island Drive.
“It is the oldest continuous charity of its kind in the Continental United States,” said Jim Walsh, chairman of this year’s event and a 12-year member of SGYC. “Everything about it is either donated or done on a volunteer basis.”
The regatta allows people in wheelchairs and those facing other mobility challenges to be taken on boat rides around San Diego Bay.
According to Walsh, the origins of the event can be found nearly
50 years ago during a time when there was far less public awareness for those with mobility challenges than is true today. The idea came about when some of the founding members of SGYC decided to do something for the community.
“Through the years it has continued to grow,” Walsh said. “This year, we will have between 400 and 500 people who will go on the boat rides thanks to 40 or 50 boat owners.”
Cheryl Nielsen is a 4-year member of the SGYC who helps with the promotion of the event.
“This year has been a little more challenging in terms of getting boat owners because of the rising costs of fuel,” Nielsen said. “Yet we are very thankful for their help.”
However, securing boat owners willing to donate their time and fuel is just part of the overall challenge of the event, according to organizers.
First, the participants need to be able to get to the yacht club. Second, they need help getting on to the boats.
“We contact many of the associations and organizations who serve special-needs populations,” Nielsen said.
“The people are then brought to the club in vans and buses with those who can also attend to them,” she said.
Once at the SGYC, the job of lifting participants, often while they remain in their wheelchairs, literally falls on the shoulders of local military personnel, who also donate their time.
“The Navy and Marine Corps do all the heavy lifting of getting the participants both on and then off the boats,” said Walsh.
Organizers said the day involve simply a boat ride.
“The rides usually last for about 45 minutes to an hour beginning at around 8 a.m.,” Nielsen said. “We try to finish around noon at which time we provide lunch and entertainment. The night before the event we host a dinner for all the skippers of the boats to show our appreciation for their efforts. There is also a raffle for prizes.”
While about 150 Silver Gate Yacht Club members volunteer for the event, in addition to the boat owners and military servicemembers, the general public can also get involved, according to Walsh.
“The more boats we have, the easier it is on everyone else,” he stated. “Anyone who has any type of power boat (not a sailboat) is more than welcome to participate.”
For both Walsh and Nielsen, it is the reactions of the participants which makes the event all worthwhile and probably one key reason why it has continued for roughly 50 years.
“For many of these people it is the only time during the year where they can get out on the water,” Walsh said.
“All you have to do is see some of the faces of these people and they absolutely love the experience. It is wonderful for them,” he said.
Anyone with a power boat interested in participating is encouraged to call the SGYC at (619) 222-1214.
For more information on the event and the club, visit www.sgyc.org.