Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) and several hundred of their friends are calling on the state of Maryland, Anne Arundel County, and the City of Annapolis to fund an Adaptive Boating Center.
CRAB, an organization that gives disabled boaters the ability to sail their own specially-adapted boats, doesn’t have its own boathouse to launch from. Currently, CRAB is based at Sandy Point State Park, but the park’s increasing popularity, special events held there, and traffic backups on Route 50, are making it hard for members to access the waterfront.
Hundreds of supporters signed a petition asking Governor Larry Hogan, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh, and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, to commit plans and funds for an Adaptive Boating Center so that people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and local children from at-risk communities have access to the Bay.
CRAB President Brad LaTour said, “CRAB is very fortunate to have earned the support of every high-ranking elected leader in the region. What we are striving to do now is to elevate their support to a commitment and the funding of an Adaptive Boating Center in 2019.”
The petitions were signed at the 12th annual CRAB Cup. Bay Bulletin’s Cheryl Costello was there: watch her report on that special regatta by clicking here. The signatures were then hand-delivered to local leaders.
CRAB says its Adaptive Boating Center will also provide job opportunities for people with disabilities and will offer local young people experience in learning a marine trade or managing sailing programs.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
To learn more about CRAB and the Adaptive Boating Center, email [email protected].
