CRAB Sailors Hosted By AYC
The Don Backe Memorial CRAB Regatta 2018 was hosted June 9 by the Annapolis Yacht Club. Six Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) Beneteau First 22A's were on the race start line for the 20th annual event, with skippers, crew and AYC tacticians aboard each boat. The AYC race committee chaired by past-commodore Peter Gordon managed a professional and competitive four-race regatta in Annapolis Harbor.
This year’s regatta featured skippers and crew with disabilities from Florida, Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland. Matching CRAB skippers/crew with AYC tacticians has greatly increased the quality of the sailing and competition the past two years. Sailing to the top of the podium was Dani and Rudy Izzie, with Scott Gitchell (AYC). Dani and Rudy were married the week before, so the championship was a great start to their honeymoon.
Capturing second place with a first and second in the final two races were Josh Jones and Jay Streit and John Moran (AYC). Taking third place was veteran CRAB Regatta skipper Lance Hinrichs with John Tarrant and Alan Wilkins (AYC).
Guest of honor, Maryland Department of Disabilities assistant secretary Bill Frank presented a proclamation to CRAB president Brad LaTour from Governor Larry Hogan declaring June 2018 as Adaptive Boating Month in the State of Maryland. Frank commented that Chesapeake Bay was the greatest natural resource in the State and region and that CRAB was the primary provider of access to boating on the Bay for persons with disabilities. He emphasized the Dept. of Disabilities' full support for CRAB's initiative to create an Adaptive Boating Center in Annapolis.
The unveiling of the new regatta permanent trophy was one of the highlights of the afternoon. The pewter Revere bowl rests on a burl from an Australian tree that looks like coral and has a Blue Crab resting on it.
Sharing the post-race time with fellow competitors, RC, peers, and friends old and new served to make it a very special time for everyone involved in the Don Backe Memorial CRAB Regatta. Learn more about CRAB here.
