BAY AREA ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED SAILORS

Our Mission

We believe sailing is the sport where disabled people feel most able. Thus, BAADS seeks to make all aspects of sailing in the San Francisco Bay Area accessible. This includes full participation in teaching sailing, cruising, racing, and developing engineering designs for adaptive equipment to benefit people with diverse abilities
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Sailing is an exciting, elemental experience. With the wind brisk and the waves washing against the hull, there's an undeniable feeling of camaraderie as all aboard become part of the triad of nature, boat, and crew.
The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors strives to make this experience accessible to all BAADS members, their families, friends and caregivers. Whether you get about in a wheelchair, navigate with a cane, or are able bodied, BAADS exists to open this exhilarating sport to you.

Travel directions for the blind to BAADS location

Web Partners
South Beach Yacht Club
St. Francis Yacht Club
America President Lines
West Marine
USA Sailing
American Sailing Association
Java House

A Message from Our Commodore
2008 will be the era of expanded horizons. With the addition of the Islander 36 to our fleet of three other keel boats, for the first time BAADS will be offering accessible overnight and coastal cruising opportunities. In addition, more of the popular 3.03 dinghies will be added to our dinghy fleet.

Formal training classes will be expanded to both the dinghy and keel boat programs. Outreach to the underserved communities will be expanded. Fundraising activities will be expanded and, of course, more of our popular events and outings will be expanded as well. Keep tuned!

BAADS continues its ASA (American Sailing Association) certification-training program for those interested in sailing larger yachts on San Francisco Bay and beyond. (See Training) Last Memorial Day, BAADS hosted our firsts National Regatta. This event was co-sponsored by the American President Lines and The Access Dinghy Foundation. The Race was governed by the St Francis Yacht Club and established San Francisco as a premiere destination for national and international Disabled Sailing Regattas. (See Sponsors)

South Beach Yacht Clu b’s new facilities and Community Room provides a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for meetings and celebrating. BAADS annual events such as the infamous Pirate Party, as well as other very popular outings provide a continuous stream of festivities. (See Events) As BAADS is located in the center of the world’s High Tech Industry we are continually updating our accessible equipment with state of the art technologies. BAADS outreach to an ever-expanding circle of both disabled and Inner-City populations instills confidence, communication skills and appreciation for the environment.

Worth checking out: On November 10th, 2005 Scott Duncan and Pam Habek made sailing history by achieving their first milestone becoming the first legally blind people to cross the Pacific Ocean! Follow their story
Ed Gallagher, Commodore