I'm now armed with 2 full bags of buns 🥖⛵️🥐 Dangerous baked goods. For the Not a Whale sailing fundraiser, hosted by CFSA to raise funds for our #AbleSailVictoria adaptive sailing program. We chuck them at competing boats. It's part of the annual tradition. Other silly competitions during the annual fundraising event include: sea shanty sing-offs, all crew sail with one arm contest & fastest backwards sailing race.

I'm still struggling with PTSD triggers & am grateful for day off work today. I'm going sailing. I have 2 more long work days before taking a full week off work for Vancouver Island Adaptive Snowsports training next week - something I've been waiting on getting back into for 4 years.

Kicking off 2025 on a positive note with my first time #sailing in the annual Not a Whaler fundraiser fun regatta, co-hosted by #CanadianForcesSailingAssociation & #AbleSailVictoria. I'll be on the Big Foot sailboat, with CFSA skipper, Ryan Kaye. Registration is at noon. Race fun starts at 1:30pm. It will be a great time on the waters. We are sailing out of CFSA Baker Dock, at CFB Naden base in #Esquimalt in #VictoriaBC on #VancouverIsland in #BritishColumbia. I'll be at CFSA HQ until around 4pm.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #FundraisingEvent #YYJ #sailors #AdaptiveSailing

*I'm awaiting to hear back on which crew I'll be placed with for upcoming Not a Whaler #sailing event.*

The annual Canadian Forces Sailing Association’s #CFSA Not A Whaler Race is taking place on January 1, 2025 at the Canadian Forces Base #Naden, #Esquimalt Harbour. #Sailors will gather at the Sail Training dock.  Boats pay $20.00 and each crew member wanting post race food and drink (chili including vegetarian and alcoholic and non-alcoholic Moose Milk (a Navy tradition) will pay $10.00. We invite our ASV members to join in the post race celebrations or perhaps on a boat as we do have skippers happy to take folks out, however, you will need to be able to negotiate getting in and out of boats without a lift and up and down companion ways of boats. If you are interested in being a crew member on a boat for $10.00 you will need to provide your name and contact beforehand so we can place you on a suitable vessel. You will need to arrive at the docks at 1200. The race itself commences at 1:30 pm for about 1-1.5 hours with boats returning to the docks for the apres sail festivities. You can join in the apres sailing festivities and enjoy chili and libations for $10.00 but please RSVP to fleetcaptain@cfsaesq.ca for either crewing or eating.

CFSA has a long history of supporting accessible sailing in Victoria as it was the program provider since #DisabledSailing came into being in the early 1990’s. CFSA supported the association with space, moorage and assistance with equipment, volunteers and training staff. 

Currently CFSA has had to change the location of their marina resulting in the dock not being accessible until the marina development is completed. Despite not being able to host the sails for the former Disabled Sailing Association (now #AbleSailVictoria (ASV), CFSA has continued to support the programs by #fundraising with the Not A Whaler Race and providing storage space for the program’s equipment during the off season.

https://www.ablesailvictoria.com/calendar/not-a-whaler-race

If you or your family or friends would to make a donation to Able Sail Victoria you can do so directly: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/103503

This will help us to continue our successful programs for which we charge $20.00 while the cost to provide the program is $130.00 per sail. We thank you for being members of ASV and for providing support for this worthwhile program.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #AdaptiveSailing #DisabledSports #DisabledSailors #SailingFundraiser #FunRegatta #RaisingFundsForASV #VictoriaBC #YYJ #CanadianForces #SailingEvent #AccessibleSports

Slideshow with photos from yesterday, stitched with 2 vid shorts.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OLJhsGC8gj8

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean #mariners #sailing #CadboroBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #AbleSailVictoria #RVYC #photography #slideshow

Visibility was almost nil on waters for most of my session. I found some pockets of wind & took advantage of those, as often as I could.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean #mariners #CadboroBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #AbleSailVictoria #Fog #NoVisability

It was really foggy out on the ocean today!
Almost no winds until we reached mouth of the bay. I was happy to take Mom out for her very first sailing experience ☺️ She found it to be very relaxing. We saw some seals, mergansers, few American coots & a couple of buffleheads.
Back at RVYC on August 22.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean #mariners #CadboroBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #AbleSailVictoria #AsianMastodon #Teochew #MomAndDaughter

#Sailing back into #RVYC marina. Picked up some wind on way back in & had fun 😃⛵️

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xyMP7eaBWFc

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean #mariners #CadboroBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #AbleSailVictoria

I had a great first solo #sailing session this afternoon. Winds were tricky today. Winds changed directions 5 times in 2 hours. Lots of adjustments on my sails today.

I got yacht club approval to take my Mom out as my passenger, for her very first sailing adventure, tomorrow morning! I'm pretty stoked about that. Mom has never been in any sailboat before! I'm not taking her very far because she gets scared of open ocean (while I love open ocean!). It will be very nice to take my Mom out for her first sailing experience 😊⛵️

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean #mariners #CadboroBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #AbleSailVictoria

#RVYC #AbleSailVictoria crew in #ZodiacBoat - heading out to set an upwind marker near mouth of the bay for me to practice sailing a set course & do some figure 8s maneuvering around. Good practice to build up adaptive #sailing navigation & steering skills on my solo practice sails.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean #mariners #CadboroBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #AbleSailVictoria

Saving some time by getting towed out to sailing practice course markers, by one of the #RVYC safety/coach #ZodiacBoats.

I'll upload brief clip of sailing back to marina after practicing some demo race course navigation, soon. Had some nice winds during my first solo adaptive #sailing session today ⛵️😊

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean #mariners #CadboroBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #AbleSailVictoria

#AbleSailVictoria at #RVYC was booked solid today. I arrived early & was waiting for a boat to return. Today, a #PowerChair #DisabledSailor was out for first afternoon session. ASV has a lift on the dock for people who need to safely transfer from #wheelchair into #sailboat.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaSailing #AdaptiveSailing #ParaSports #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #VictoriaBC #YYJ #Watersports #Sailors #VancouverIsland #PacificNorthwest #Coastal #nautical #Sailboat #Martin16 #VanIsle #LekwungenTerritory #SalishSea #PNW #PacificOcean

Just got an update. Another disabled sailor canceled their July 29th morning sail. I just jumped on the open booking.
Back out on the ocean, Monday morning 😀⛵️

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaAthletes #ParaSports #DifferentlyAbled #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailors #AbleSailVictoria #AbleSail #DisabledSailingCanada #BCDisabledSailing #OakBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #VancouverIsland #StayActive #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #SalishSea #PNW #sailing #Martin16 #Sailboat #AdaptiveSailing

Excellent 2nd #AdaptiveSailing session today! My instructor today, Kate, is very knowledgeable & keen to help me learn more so I can enter future Mobility Cup regattas. I manned sailboat for almost full session today & she gave me guidance only when needed. There was more breezes so we didn't need to be towed out or back. My next session is on August 4th 😊⛵️

Lunching with Mom on back deck before we get some gardening tasks done 👩‍🌾 Heading to the Indigenous Music Festival around 5:30pm 🎶🎵 Hampton Park is only 5 minutes from our home & starts at 6pm.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaAthletes #ParaSports #DifferentlyAbled #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailors #AbleSailVictoria #AbleSail #DisabledSailingCanada #BCDisabledSailing #OakBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #VancouverIsland #StayActive #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #SalishSea #PNW #sailing #Martin16 #Sailboat

We only got a bit of wind for my first sailing session but Friday forecast calls for cooler temps & more wind on waters. I'll be able to move the sailboat faster! I can try out more tacking & keeling moves. Was able to pick up enough wind, out on open ocean, to keel the sailboat a few times & got waves rushing on/over the gunnels. That was fun & exciting!

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaAthletes #ParaSports #DifferentlyAbled #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailors #AbleSailVictoria #AbleSail #DisabledSailingCanada #BCDisabledSailing #OakBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #VancouverIsland #StayActive #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #SalishSea #PNW #sailing #Martin16 #Sailboat

From Sunday. We got towed out by Zodiac boat because there was zero wind in the harbour.

#PeopleWithDisabilities #ParaAthletes #ParaSports #DifferentlyAbled #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailors #AbleSailVictoria #AbleSail #DisabledSailingCanada #BCDisabledSailing #OakBay #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub #VancouverIsland #StayActive #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #SalishSea #PNW #sailing #Martin16 #Sailboat

Sailing & ocean view photos from docks & sailboat will be coming, after my first #AdaptiveSailing session with #AbleSailVictoria on Sunday morning! I'm so excited to get back into #ParaSailing after a very long hiatus! Hoping to start getting certified for #WhiteSails so I can race in regattas in the future 🙏 ⛵️💗

#PeopleWithDisabilities #DisabledSports #AdaptiveSports #ParaSports #InclusiveSports

Booked my first #ParaSailing lessons with #AbleSailVictoria ⛵️My first sail session starts this Sunday morning, July 21. My 2nd sail session is July 26th morning & 3rd one is booked for August 4th. These lessons will be running out of #RVYC - #RoyalVictoriaYachtClub, in Oak Bay.
Later, in August, I'll be sailing out of Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club.

I will be learning in a #Martin16 sailboat I'm going to try for 1-2 sailing lesson/week. I can't afford more or I'd go more often - saved up to afford these sessions.

https://www.ablesailvictoria.com/

#PeopleWithDisabilities #AdaptiveSports #DisabledSailing #AdaptiveSailing #Sailing