The first day of racing at the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship concluded after a great afternoon of racing. First gun, originally scheduled for 10AM, finally went off at 2:15PM due to fog and lack of wind in the morning. On shore, early morning cool gave way to 90-degree temperatures, before the sea breeze finally filled, and PRO, Tinker Myles, sent the boats out to the course. Despite the late start, the race committee managed to complete five races for the one-person 2.4 meter and 3-person Sonars and four races for the Ideal 18s.

Qingdao-bound Sonar sailors Rick Doerr, Tim Angle and Bill Donohue hold a skinny one-point lead in the Sonars. In the 2.4 meters, Bruce Millar has a 7-point lead over last year’s winner Mark LeBlanc and Floridian Mark Bryant. In the closely-contested, six-boat Ideal 18 class, some questionable contact on the water kept the sailors in the protest room til past press time (results tomorrow).

But there is also another story worth telling about this amazing day. Longtime sailor Christopher Stitt and his wife Aleene traveled from Mt Lakes, New Jersey to witness the race. Stitt, 47, suffered a stroke last November while driving his car. He was released in March and continues his rehabilitation. Aleene had seen the race notice on the US SAILING website, and they decided to come out to Rye. The surprised and thrilled couple was offered a ride in the Commodore’s boat, and they got to witness the drama of the race first hand. For Chris, the experience of finally being on the water again could be summed up in one word… “Terrific”.

And tomorrow will be another day.