Warrior Sailing Program - Warrior sailors achieve a podium finish

by Sam Crichton on 10 Sep 2015 Eighteen sailors, who are all graduates from the Warrior Sailing Program Basic Training Camp, recently took part in the US Sailing Disabled Championships, which were held in San Diego, CA August 26-29. Three fleets of boats were racing at the championships and in the three person Capri 22 class, the top two finishing teams are members of the Warrior Sailing Program.

Melissa Klotz, Josh Agripino and Matthew (Tom) Pena, all from San Diego, CA, took first place while Scott Ford (Traverse City, MI), Sammy Lugo (Riverview, FL) and Anthony Radetic (Abbeville, AL) took second place. Made up of active duty and retired wounded, ill and injured U.S. service members, the Warrior Sailing Program works toward improving their lives through the sport of sailing. The six teams from the Warrior Sailing Program who took part in the U.S. Sailing Disabled Championships are made up of long term and new members, all who are enjoying the benefits of being involved with this inspirational program.

Over the next four days, Warrior Sailing Program blind sailors Scott Ford (Traverse City, MI) and Mouad Yousef (Cleveland, OH) will be accompanied by crew Sammy Lugo (Riverview, FL) and Guy Mossman (Charleston, SC) on the water again in Chicago, IL for the IFDS Blind Sailing World Championship September 10 to 13. Ford, who was crew for Lugo and Radetic at the U.S. Sailing Disabled Championship in San Diego, will be the helmsman for the Blind Sailing World Championship. Following that event, Ford will be the main sail trimmer for the Sonar World Championship in Falmouth, MA September 17 to 20.

'I've been involved with the Warrior Sailing Program since July 2014 and would tell any active or retired service member to try it out. It is an awesome experience that allows you to be integrated into a team similar to the military environment. Active and returned veterans should come to the Warrior Sailing Program with an open mind and learn a new language among hero's, both military and civilian,' commented Ford. A retired US Navy Seabee, Ford, who has lost his sight due to a vaccination while on tour with the Navy, has an extremely positive outlook on his future with the Warrior Sailing Program. 'Being a part of a Warrior Sailing Team has increased my drive and allowed me to set a goal to represent the USA at an international level of competition in the sport of sailing.'

Ford's team member, Sammy Lugo, a SFC U.S. Army Retired veteran said about Ford, 'I take a lot from my team mates, they have helped motivate me through many hard times and have been there since I began sailing.'

Lugo, who did his first Warrior Sailing Program Basic Training Camp in April of 2014 continued, 'I learned that nothing in life comes easy, you either have to choose to lay back and watch life pass you by or get yourself ready for that rough ride called life and make sure you push and move forward with such momentum that any obstacle will be in your rear view mirror.'

Currently being held in Galveston, Texas, the Warrior Sailing Program is hosting a Basic Training Camp, where 17 wounded, ill and injured military service members both active and retired will be introduced to the sport of sailing and what the Warrior Sailing Program has to offer.

With a full calendar of events, the Warrior Sailing Program is helping warrior sailors take new challenges in their stride.