A first-ever US Sailing sanctioned Special Olympics North and South American Championships
had been scheduled to take place.
BRISTOL, R.I. (June 5, 2020) – The 2020 U.S. Para Sailing Championships was originally scheduled to take place in conjunction with the Doolin Cup and the Special Olympics North and South American Championships at Sea Star Base Galveston (Texas) on September 25-27, 2020. Unfortunately, due to safety concerns caused by COVID-19, these combined events will be cancelled in 2020.
“Sea Star Base was incredibly proud to be the first venue to hold these combined championships,” said Regatta Chair, David Gaston. We cannot ensure a safe, quality event with the current knowledge of the COVID-19 situation. An event of this size is not possible without many months of planning and preparation, so we all felt the safest and most practical path to take is to look ahead to next year. We look forward to hosting the Doolin Cup and other events in 2021 and beyond.”
2020 would have been the first time that the U.S. Para Sailing Championships would have included divisions of sailors from Special Olympics. US Sailing is actively working to increase inclusivity in sailing events and expand organization-wide efforts to become more diverse and inclusive. Embracing these amazing athletes from Special Olympics is one part of the ongoing effort.
“Although it’s disappointing to see yet another event cancellation this season, our primary concern is the health and safety of our sailors and volunteers,” said Spencer Raggio, Chair of the US Sailing Para Sailing Committee. “One thing sailors know how to do is tack on a shift, and we look forward to coming out of this stronger in 2021.”
The U.S. Para Sailing Championships is one of the oldest sailing regattas in the U.S. for sailors with disabilities. The talented field often includes Paralympians, US Sailing Team members, and new contenders. The event includes multiple fleets in various disciplines, including single-, double-, and triplehanded sailboats and has become a regular “go to” event on the North American calendar for sailors from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and South American countries.
The Doolin Cup is an annual adaptive regatta hosted by Sea Star Base Galveston typically raced in Sonars, a triplehanded boat used in the Paralympics from 2000 to 2016.
For more information about the U.S. Para Sailing Championships, contact US Sailing at championships@ussailing.org.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.