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Will Keyworth
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Will Keyworth
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Photos courtesy Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB)
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Photos courtesy Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB)
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Photos courtesy Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB)
Annapolis, MD -- Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating hosted the 18th Annual CRAB Cup race and shore party on Saturday, August 17, 2024, and the turnout broke records with 102 boats registered for the pursuit race and over 600 friends and supporters attending the post-race party.
The CRAB Cup is a family-friendly sailing event hosted at Eastport Yacht Club. It is organized by CRAB with support from founding sponsor Boatyard Bar and Grill. It is CRAB’s largest fundraising event of the year, generating 20% of CRAB’s annual revenue. This year, for the first time, I am ALS, a nonprofit dedicated to finding a cure for ALS, was the premier sponsor. I am ALS spokesperson Tim Abeska expressed his appreciation to the audience for CRAB’s therapeutic programming and its impact on the quality of life for people living with ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
CRAB Cup Honorary Guest Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, the United States Naval Academy Superintendent, reaffirmed CRAB’s partnership with Navy Sailing for the upcoming Recovering Warrior Sailing Regatta on the Bay on September 28th of this year. Vice Admiral Davids said, “I am very familiar with CRAB, as I used to compete as a sailor for USNA. I have followed the growth and development of this wonderful organization throughout my career. I am thrilled to be back in Annapolis and to have the opportunity to work with CRAB, supporting recovering warriors and providing our Navy's future leaders with the chance to learn from those who have made great sacrifices.”
Midway through the party, many guests defied the torrential storm to celebrate equity of access to the Chesapeake Bay by dancing to Misspent Youth. By the end of the day, CRAB raised more than $250k to support its mission through the efforts of the accompanying Skipper’s Challenge peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, event ticket sales, boat registrations, donations, and 41 sponsors. Funds raised from the event are essential to ensuring that CRAB can provide therapeutic boating experiences for our community members with disabilities, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved communities.
What sets this race apart from other events is its inclusivity. CRAB’s six adaptive sailboats are skippered by athletes with disabilities and race along with 18 other classes of boats. The camaraderie felt on the water and at the post-race shore party is unmistakable. This year, for the first time in over five years, sailors in the pursuit race were able to complete the long course (7.5 miles). Top CRAB Beneteau First 22A finisher was "Club Mac" skippered by RADM (ret) Tim McGee with his USNA Dinghy Sailing All-Americans aboard; 2nd place was "Lainie" skippered by Justin Disborough; and, 3rd place went to "Whoa Dudes" skippered by Kevin Detwiler of Leonardtown, MD. Tracey and Warren Richter aboard Committed were the overall winners of the pursuit race. David McKee took second place on Relentless, and Doug Stryker took third aboard Mayhem. Nineteen classes of boats competed in the Pursuit Race with a separate course for Harbour 20s.
