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Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program for people with disabilities - Chicago - info



The Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program (JGASP) includes classroom and on-water instruction for the physically disabled. JGASP is a public/private partnership with the Chicago Park District whereby the Foundation raises funds for instructor salaries, boats and maintenance costs while the Park District operates the Program on a day-to-day basis. The fleet consists of eight Freedom 20's, eight Sonars and four 2.4 meter sailboats. The Freedom 20's were built specifically for disabled sailors and have many safety features that make this boat the premier boat of choice for a disabled sailing program. The Sonar and the 2.4 meter boats are for more advanced racing sailors and are used in world disabled championships, such as the Paralympics. All boats are very stable and will not capsize.

While we want to serve all people who are mobility or visually impaired, participation in the instructional program requires:
A desire to attain sailing skills

An ability to float calmly in the water for five minutes while wearing a personal flotation device (life jacket)

Specially designed safety features at the dock and aboard the boats include:

Transfer-boarding benches that assist sailors as they move from
wheelchairs to seats aboard.

Counterweighted seats that provide support while enabling sailors to pivot from one side of the boat to the other
Chest and waist belts that add stability and safety

Lines, tillers, and rigging that are positioned to enable easy participation

Life jackets

Marine radios and outboard engines that allow close contact and maximum safety

Parking conveniently adjacent to the wheelchair-accessible docks
Judd Goldman Sailing Center
Burnham Harbor (one block West of Planetarium)
1362 S. Linn White Drive
Chicago, IL 60605-2470
Directions/Map

For reservations and more information, contact us at:

Seasonal phone number: (312) 747-7684

Or email us at jgasf@juddgoldmansailing.org

For the Judd Goldman Sailing Center homepage: CLICK HERE


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