Duane, thanks for the vote of confidence. Yes, there will be plywood panels
underneath you, however, this year we’ve made some new “skipper” boards for the
blind crews. The original skipper boards had a flange protruding into the
footwell area that would help cantilever the installed skipper seat. In that we
had to make more adaptations this year, we made enough new “blind skipper
boards” with not flange. Still a hard seat for your butt, but more manageable
in the footwell.
Looking forward to having you all with us again,
Buttons
Edward R. Padin
Partner, Padin & Estabrook LLC
18 Normandy Lane
New Rochelle, NY 10804
epadin@xxxxxxxxxxx
O: 914-834-8286
M: 914-439-5476
H: 914-834-5476
From: Duane Farrar <duano@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2019 4:18 PM
To: bubs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Katherine Kern <katherinekern1@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [bubs] Robie Pierce Rules for Blind Sailors
Thanks, Katherine. I was planning to follow up with Buttons and Bill today.
This configuration will be identical to those times when I have sailed with
Maureen McKinnon, who is a paraplegic sailor some of you may not yet know.
Maureen typically sat on the port side and I could switch back and forth. Sol
Marini, our AB, remained on the starboard side at all times although he was not
in a seat. When we were both on the starboard side one of us could sit up on
the rail, but not both at the same time, and obviously I was the only one who
could sit on the rail on the port side. However, this also meant the plywood
frame used in all disabled boats to mount the seats was also present. But, it
wasn't that big a deal to sit on the plywood when not on the rail and it could
be used as a hiking mechanism to secure a foot when sitting on the rail. The
added weight also put us on a more even par with the other boats fully crewed
by disabled sailors.
When I've more recently sailed this regatta with a blind crew, such as Amy
Bower or Mark Bos, we followed the same protocol minus the seat or plywood,
with the blind crew remaining fixed on the port side and the sighted AB on the
starboard. Even when the rules were confusing, at all times I have endeavored
to follow the spirit of the regatta.
Duane
On 5/20/2019 1:37 PM, Katherine Kern wrote:
I clarified with buttons on Friday. The skipper can switch sides. But you know
that the crew cannot. They are going to be in the adapted seats like the
disabled. I would practice with using your foot as leverage. Because I feel
that as crew you might not have as much since you will be sitting a little
higher up.
Sent from my iPhone
On May 20, 2019, at 1:12 PM, Jason Wallenstein <jwallens@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:jwallens@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Hey Grace,
Is it possible to practice with an offset Marc this week. I think of the good
practice for everyone. As I’m pretty sure they will have an offset Marc at the
Robbie. Also I don’t know if you heard from Duane but I got an email from the
Robbie asking what side they want the blind skippers to sit on as we are now
required to be in fixed spots. I wasn’t aware of this and in unsure how this
will work for us.
Jason
Sent from my iPhone
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-wallenstein-31964216/
On May 20, 2019, at 11:56 AM, Grace <graceface3629@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:graceface3629@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Pre-season/Robie Pierce practice continues this Wednesday, May 22, at 5:30 PM
at Community Boating. We will be practicing in Ideal 18s.
Last week we had two Ideals and two sonars full of sailors, plus Renee in the
committee boat and an excellent crew of dog handlers on shore - thanks Iris,
Cammie, and Joey! We practiced stopping at a mark, several practice starts,
and a race. We also discussed all the things you can do to kill the time
between the 5 minute warning and the starting gun, such as checking which side
of the line is favored and where the puffs are coming down the course.
This week we will start off practice with a couple of drills again, then go on
to practice starts and races.
Please reply to this email if you plan to attend on Wednesday so we can reserve
the right number of boats! See you there!
Your devoted coaches,
Grace and Leo
--
Duane Farrar
"In ferrum pro libertate ruebant"
