B'Quest Breezes Past Halfway Mark

All was well with the Challenged America team of disabled sailors as they breezed past the halfway point of Transpac 2003 on the Tripp 40 B'Quest.

B'Quest had sailed halfway to Hawaii "in good spirits" after this photo was taken before last week's start. Challenged America president Urban Miyares, who is blind, is at left and Greg Scott, developmentally handicapped, is in the helmsman's chair.

Crew member Greg Scott telephoned the team's shore-based Web site, www.sdsailing.com, to say the boat was fine and the crew was in good spirits. They had all become conditioned to the shift rotation, and, except for damage early in the race to the foot of the medium No. 1 genoa and a little work on one of the genoa cars, breakage was at a minimum.

Scott also said they had been flying a spinnaker since July 3, two days after the start, and but for a few squalls that had run through one night had experienced light and comfortable breezes most of the way.

Scott reported they were looking forward to arriving in Hawaii and meeting the team's supporters. After relaying the team's thanks to the crew's family and friends, Scott signed off, eagerly anticipating the boat's mid-way "spring cleaning."

The official 2003 TransPac Yacht Race Website http://www.transpacificyc.org
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Doug Vann, Lisa Niemczura, Walt Niemczura