I'm Frank Lacagnina, a volunteer with Challenged Sailors San Diego (CSSD), an award-winning, all-volunteer led and run non-profit organization. Founded on October 10, 2014, CSSD is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 47-2882798) committed to providing therapeutic, recreational, and competitive adaptive sailing opportunities. Our mission is to enhance the dignity, well-being, and independence of individuals with disabilities through the transformative power of sailing. We exist through the generous support and contributions of our community.

CSSD offers free adaptive sailing experiences for individuals with disabilities, empowering them to explore the natural world with unparalleled freedom and control. Through sailing, participants gain full command over their boat’s direction and speed, embracing the exhilaration of navigating the San Diego Bay's open waters on their own terms.

Every Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., community members, active duty and veteran armed service members with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, or quadriplegia and paraplegia, and many others, are invited to enjoy engaging and exhilarating sailing experiences. Our goal is to teach participants, aka Adaptive Sailors, how to independently skipper a sailboat, regardless of their previous sailing experience. We prioritize treating all our guests with dignity and care, and we encourage them to integrate sailing into their lives with the option for ongoing participation in our adaptive sailing program.

Each Adaptive Sailor is paired with an experienced volunteer Companion Sailor who offers guidance and support throughout the journey. Our boats are equipped with a mainsail, a jib, and some are rigged with spinnaker sails. To ensure safety, the boats feature a 330-pound keel that prevents capsizing. We host groups of Adaptive Sailors who join us on many weekends to learn, refine their skills, or simply enjoy the beauty of San Diego Bay. Some even enjoy the exciting challenge of competing in races.

Our Companion Sailors are stationed at the back of the sailboats, providing sailing instructions and support to the Adaptive Sailors. CSSD offers comprehensive training for Companion Sailors, covering boat rigging and operation, as well as protocols for addressing any needs or emergencies that may arise. Our boats are equipped to accommodate various levels of paralysis and hand function. For sailors with limited upper body strength, we provide a power assist unit (PAU) with a joystick that allows them to adjust the sails and steer the boat. We even have a sip-and-puff system that enables breath control of the PAU.

CSSD urgently needs to raise funds for our operations for the coming year, approximately $7,400 per month. This budget covers essential expenses such as insurance, American Sign Language Interpreters for our hearing impaired and deaf sailors, three marina slips, and all boat maintenance. We currently have eight Marlin 16 sailboats, one SKUD 18 sailboat, and an RS Venture, each specifically designed to enable individuals with disabilities to sail with full competency. Our Boston Whaler motorboat monitors our fleet during sails. A dedicated team of volunteers performs regular maintenance on these boats, ensuring they remain seaworthy and our sailors stay safe.

Please be sure to zero-out the tip recommendation. There is no need to add tip to any donation.

CSSD is located at the Safe Harbor Sunroad Marina on Harbor Island, near the San Diego Airport.

Click Here to watch a short video overview of our sailing experience!

Visit our website by clicking here.

We sincerely appreciate your consideration in helping transform the lives of individuals with disabilities through the joy of sailing.