CRAB held the first volunteer skipper and crew training sessions of the season on April 1, 2022. CRAB has a flawless safety record due to its mandatory and comprehensive training program. Every volunteer, new and returning, has to participate in a training session in order to sail with guests. Prior to attending a session, each volunteer is responsible for reading the yearly updated CRAB training manual. This manual is written specifically to address the needs of CRAB’s guests and the fleet of modified adaptive sailboats. This year the only thing higher than the gusty winds were the spirits and dedication of volunteers ready to make this season a huge success!

Training begins with Executive Director, Paul "Bo" Bollinger welcoming the volunteers and going over the most important information in the training manual. Volunteers listened attentively and asked questions about the materials and what to expect when working with guests. Bo and CRAB Fleet Directors Dan Flagler and Dan Pendergast answered questions until everyone felt confident and ready to move on to the dock and CRAB’s Fleet of adaptive sailboats.

After ensuring that everyone had a personal floatation device, the group was split, experienced volunteers attending for their annual refresher were paired with the Fleet Directors, while new volunteers remained with Bo. Bo began the boat training with boat/dock safety and ensured that everyone knew how to properly tie a cleat hitch. Since everyone had read the manual and had some familiarity with boating this was an easy and fun exercise. Next Bo discussed the necessary safety precautions CRAB has implemented for boarding and disembarking guests, caregivers, and family members.

Volunteers had an opportunity to practice boarding a faux-disabled Bo using the “transfer box,” a tool used to help a guest leave their wheelchair and board one of CRAB’s adaptive sailboats. Once the transfer box training was complete, volunteers learned how to ensure that a guest is safely and securely seated in one of the bucket seats located on each boat. Each volunteer had the opportunity to see a demonstration and then perform securing the four-point harness belt on a fellow volunteer.

Now that volunteers were given a full overview of guest safety, Bollinger reviewed all of the safety features and sailing functions of the boat. From the foam-lined hull to bleeding the auxiliary propane motor, guests can be assured that all of CRAB’s Skippers and Crew know their boats from stem to stern!

If you or a family member have a disability and you dream of a fun and safe recreational activity on the water, then Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating is for you. Go to www.crabsailing.org for more information and to schedule your sail today.