CRAB Receives Robie Pierce Award for Best Adaptive Sailing

07.02.2020 22:34

(L-R: Robbie Pierce presents the Robie Pierce Award to Liz Bollinger and Paul Bollinger, CRAB Executive Director)

CRAB was awarded US Sailing’s Robie Pierce Award for best adaptive sailing on Thursday, February 6th, 2020. Read the press release below

CRAB Awarded US Sailing’s Robie Pierce Award

For Immediate Release:Contact: Paul Bollinger

February 7, 2020 410.266.5722

ED@crabsailing.org

US Sailing has honored Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) with the 2019 Robie Pierce Award for its efforts over 30 years to promote public access sailing for thousands of people with disabilities. The award was presented by sailing legend and Annapolitan Gary Jobson to CRAB Executive Director Paul “Bo” Bollinger at US Sailing’s Leadership Conference awards ceremony on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Midway in San Diego, California.

The Para Sailing Committee chose CRAB from nominations across the country. The award recognizes the outstanding program for sailors with disabilities that has made notable contributions to promote public access sailing for people with disabilities.

Accepting the award, Bollinger said, “This year we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and what better way for US Sailing to recognize our dedicated volunteers and adaptive sailing programs during this historic year.”

“We are honored to have earned US Sailing’s Robie Pierce Award as a testament to our efforts,” said CRAB President Brad LaTour. “This year we are embarking on building the country’s premier adaptive boating center in Annapolis, and we will be greatly expanding CRAB’s sailing programs and fleet for greater numbers of people with disabilities in the region.”

The late Robie Pierce, who suffered with multiple sclerosis, won several national and world disabled sailing regattas. Pierce served as chair for the US Sailing Sailors with Special Needs Committee, now called the Para Sailing Committee. Dedicated to improving access to community-based sailing venues, Pierce played a major role in helping to develop and promote disabled sailing.

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CRAB is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that strives to make the therapeutic benefits of sailing and the freedom it provides a reality for physically and/or developmentally-challenged individuals and their families, wounded warriors, and local children from at-risk communities regardless of their financial circumstances. CRAB has been providing sailing instruction for nearly 30 years on Chesapeake Bay.