Former FYC member Daryl Haskew has asked for an old (or new) Hobie 16 for the Mobile Bay Special Olympics Sailing team. Upon receiving his request, we asked for more information about the local participation. Below is his response.

Sailing has been a Special Olympic sport since before 1995. For some reason, Alabama has not been able to stir up enough interest to really move ahead with the program. I personally have been sailing and coaching with Special Olympics for 21 years and will continue to do so. We need many other people who will commit to their comfort level in order to make the sailing program a true success.

The Ocean Springs Yacht Club stepped forward about 6 years ago and established the Southeast Regional Sailing Regatta for Special Olympics. I sailed with my Special Olympian partners in borrowed boats for 5 years. Obviously, we were not able to train many athletes without boats or the support of anyone except a few volunteers who sailed with the Olympians in the event.

This past summer, however, Mobile Association for Retarded Citizens purchased an old Hobie 16 with a busted trailer. We overhauled the boat as best we could and trained four athletes at the Pier Street Beach in Fairhope. We simply sailed off the beach and used clorox bottles as bouys for a mock course. It was better than nothing. We competed in the SE Regional Regatta at Ocean Springs from 23 August until the 27th. There were 6 states represented consisting of 62 teams. Many of the team trailered their cats from as far away as South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, MS, and Alabama. We took our boat and won 1 gold, 1 silver, and two bronze medals. The athletes had a ball and were treated graciously by the MS clubs, casinos, and public officials. I must say, it was and always is a first class event. During the time, the Ocean Springs Club was out of commission, the Mobile Yacht Club hosted the event We sailed from the club in 2006 and 2007. The Mobile Club did an outstanding job, but there is no beach to sail off of. We had to walk the athletes down the boat ramp in order to change boats for each heat race.

Although difficult, the event was a great success and it introduced Special Olympic Sailing to the general public in our area. Having worked with the Special Needs Population for 20 years, I have a much different perspective of Special Olympics as a whole. During my working years at Augusta Evans Special School in Mobile, I coached basketball, track and field, softball, sailing, and powerlifting. Most of my area of concentration was in Powerlifting. During the course of 20 years, our powerlifting team set 32 Alabama state records and accumulated 12 World Medals in three World Games held in Minneapolis, MN, New Haven, CT, and Raleigh, NC. We also competed in the National Games in Ames, Iowa in 2006. There is nothing more rewarding than to work with a special person and see them succeed.

Now, on to the situation at hand.  We can build one of the most successful sailing programs in the US right here on the Bay. All it takes is for folks to understand what it means to be part of the Special Olympics as a whole. My vision is to involve all of the Clubs on the Bay. The Junior program is a great place to start. Team Georgia has about 12 teams which compete regularly. They have a young group of students who sail regularly with their Special Partners. They have become true friends. Each Special Olympian need a partner to sail with. By doing so, we establish true relationships with the special need population which last a lifetime.

Although the Hobie Cat 16 is the boat chosen by Special Olympics to sail in the sanctioned events, I personally do not see why we cannot use other boats like the 420 or something for just learning to sail. There are many Special Needs athletes who would love to try and be part of the sailing community, but they need our help.

As for "Who", we have a small core of athletes ready to begin training in our 1 boat as soon as the weather changes. How many other athletes able to participate depends totally on volunteers. "Why" . . . I think that you can figure that one out for yourself. If folks don't have a love for people and feel a need to help then they do not need to become part of Special Olympics. On the other hand, most people love the experience, are touched by it and want to continue one they get started. "When" . . . As soon as the weather changes. We need some more boats to practice with and use in competitions. We could have some small races for Special Olympians, let the Special Needs athletes be part of ongoing races as crew members, etc.

Let your mind work.

Daryl Haskew: 2haskews@bellsouth.net