CRAB and Naval Academy sailing team host Recovering Warrior Sailing Regatta
Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) in Maryland hosted its Recovering Warrior Sailing Regatta on Saturday, bringing together recovering warriors, U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen and CRAB volunteers for a day of competitive sailing, camaraderie and fun on Chesapeake Bay. The morning began with Joel McCord playing the national anthem on trumpet, followed by a resounding cannon fire.
With beautiful weather and winds starting at 8 to 10 knots before gradually diminishing, six teams took to the water aboard CRAB’s Beneteau First 22A sailboats. Races were underway across the bay, from Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse to the Bay Bridge.
Each team paired a guest warrior with two Naval Academy plebes, a CRAB skipper and a CRAB crew member. Warriors handled the tiller, while an accomplished team tended the sheets. As the winds slowly faded, teamwork reached an all-time high, and every tack and sail adjustment mattered in boat position.
The regatta featured three 25-minute races. The top three finishers were:
First place: Tony Chapman, sailing with Midshipmen Henry Sparks and Abbey Hurst, CRAB skipper Michael Manuzak and CRAB crew member Mark Freedman
Second place: Michelle A. Rice Trotter, sailing with Midshipmen Kat Mazaroski and Noah Jackson, CRAB skipper Dillon Hale and CRAB crew member Bob Hyan
Third place: Brendan Huff, sailing with Midshipmen Bleu Strnad and Logan Downey, CRAB skipper Jeff West and CRAB crew member Danny Rick
Lisa Harvin received the Spirit Award in recognition of her enthusiasm from the moment she arrived at the CRAB Adaptive Boating Center and out on the water.
After racing, sailors returned to the center for a medal ceremony celebrating the winners and all the warriors.
CRAB holds the regatta twice a year, in spring and fall. It began in 2012 and has included the Naval Academy sailing team for the past several years. CRAB’s mission is to make sailing accessible for everyone while giving recovering warriors the chance to experience the freedom, challenge and camaraderie of sailing on Chesapeake Bay.
Disabled service members interested in sailing, or anyone who knows a service member who qualifies, can join CRAB for the spring and fall regattas in 2027. Contact CRAB to learn more. Visit them at https://crabsailing.org/
