A sight to see

Terrance Phillips

Halloween came early this year for a group of visually impaired as

they were treated to a day of sailing and entertainment on Oct. 23, the

ninth annual “Sail for the Blind and Visually Impaired,” sponsored by the

Women’s Ocean Racing & Saillng Association (WORSA), hosted by the

American Legion Yacht Club.

Some 150 visually impaired Orange County guests were treated to

WORSA’s “Tropical Escape,” complete with Hawaiian shirts, leis and

tropical nametags placed on the guests by WORSA volunteers Nina Manning,

Terry Senko and Carolyn Elliott.

Paul Curtis, the post commander, and Commodore Ted Acre greeted the

guests who were then assigned to 35 volunteer boats from Newport Beach

and Dana Point.

The volunteer crews hosted a three-hour sail, which included many

seeing-eye companion dogs. Harbor Master Capt. Marty Kasules and his

assistant, Lt. Dottie Ronan, arrived with several fellow officers to

assist in the event.

Third-year participant Richard Wright, a singer in the trio “Out of

Sight,” said “It was interesting being in the harbor in the fog, hearing

sounds of other boat engines and the cries of sea birds.”

George Cassell, a member of tthe Orange County social group Blind

Ambition, with his guide dog “Mickey,” said, “What a thrill it was to see

what was going on around us through the descriptive eyes of our skippers

and crews. Thanks to them we didn’t miss a thing.”

When the boats returned to the dock guests were treated to lunch and a

reggae band. Even the companion dogs received donated doggy treats and

toys presented by volunteer Sandy Burtrum. The afternoon drew to a teary

close when John and Larry Grossman sang “I believe.”

Bonnie Gibson, WORSA Chair for the event, expressed thanks to all for

the volunteers who made this day possible. WORSA President Shirley van

Buskirk has received requests for information on organizing a similar

event in Marina Del Rey, Sag Harbor and New York for the year 2000.

You can be pushed by wind or pushed by a propeller, however any way

you push it, it’s still called a boat. As mentioned previously, the

propeller people and the wind people seem to disagree on just which is

the best way to traverse the salt.

The windys say that the propeller people jump in their boats, set

sail, and they’re already there. The only common denominator is they use

the same water.

Personally, I like them both. However, when it comes to racing boats,

I prefer the art of sailing to the art of whoever has the most

horsepower.

I know a windless boater named Sandy Bleier and he said, “You write a

lot about sailing and I prefer powerboats.”

Sandy is one of those guys (retired) who’s on his boat twice a day.

His pristine machine is perfecto - she’s waxed and she’s ready. Blond

carpeting, blond cabinetry, even a beautiful blonde wife named Monique.

The 48-foot motoryacht has everything from an ice machine to your fondest

dream, but it still needs fuel.

Another friend of mine is Larry Walter. Larry owns a C&C; 40 called Cha

Cha Cha. Larry jumps in his boat and all he needs is a puff or two.

Guess What? they both get an equal amount of enjoyment while sharing

the same water, so let’s not be too judgmental. It’s a big ocean out

there with room enough for both puffs and propellers.

TERRANCE PHILLIPS’ boating column appears on Fridays.