Bring sailing to all!

I am raising funds for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating through this year’s CRAB Cup, CRAB’s largest annual fundraiser. CRAB’s mission is simple and powerful: make sailing and boating accessible to people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and children from underserved communities.

I have volunteered with CRAB for more than three years, and in that time I have sailed with more than 50 groups from the Annapolis area and beyond. I have seen firsthand how meaningful these days on the water can be. For many guests, a CRAB sail is more than a boat ride. It is a chance to experience freedom, confidence, peace, and joy in a setting that is designed around accessibility.

I first discovered CRAB at the Annapolis Boat Show about four years ago. I was immediately impressed by the thoughtful modifications made to CRAB’s sailboats. It was obvious that these boats were not simply adapted as an afterthought — they were intentionally designed so that more people could experience the Chesapeake Bay. Since then, CRAB has taken a major leap forward with the Adaptive Boating Center in Annapolis, a fully accessible facility built to expand equitable access to the water.

This year, I will be racing in the CRAB Cup on my 1976 Cal-25, hull no. 619. I bought the boat last year with my friend Jay, and we have spent the past year bringing it back to life with new sails, a stepped mast, fresh paint, plenty of repairs, and, of course, a liquor cabinet. The CRAB Cup will be one of the first races we complete on the boat, which makes it a fitting way to celebrate both the boat’s next chapter and CRAB’s mission.

Please consider supporting my fundraiser. Your donation helps CRAB continue offering free accessible sailing and boating programs for guests who benefit from time on the water. I am grateful for any contribution and excited to race for a cause that I have been proud to support as a volunteer.