Sailing for ALS

This family will paddle from Isthmus (Catalina Island) to Manhattan Beach. Please support their effort if you can. Thank you

Although many of us are staying home right now, we are all sailing into an enormously angry storm, not knowing what the next gust of wind or the following giant waves have in store for us: will the boat and crew hold their own, or will we be facing overwhelming damage? No matter how wide of an expanse we are crossing now, land is there... over there! You don't see it? You will soon: we will get there together, but hang on and stay safe until then. In the mean time, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is still doing what they do best: research, support to patients and their families and they still need our help. If you can't donate right now, we certainly understand. Just put a little "thumb up" to show you care and come back to donate whenever and whatever you can. Anything is appreciated. Thank you.

In French, but self-explanatory: this vessel will be tested in the Mediterranean in 2023. https://www.facebook.com/francetvnature/videos/415066073055427

This family will paddle from Isthmus (Catalina Island) to Manhattan Beach. Please support their effort if you can. Thank you

Here is to hoping that 2021 will be a healthier, happier year and that Ocean Racing will be on again!

Give it a try, and stay safe out there!

Although many of us are staying home right now, we are all sailing into an enormously angry storm, not knowing what the next gust of wind or the following giant waves have in store for us: will the boat and crew hold their own, or will we be facing overwhelming damage? No matter how wide of an expanse we are crossing now, land is there... over there! You don't see it? You will soon: we will get there together, but hang on and stay safe until then. In the mean time, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is still doing what they do best: research, support to patients and their families and they still need our help. If you can't donate right now, we certainly understand. Just put a little "thumb up" to show you care and come back to donate whenever and whatever you can. Anything is appreciated. Thank you.

The world is in chaos right now as too many people and families are suffering from this horrific pandemic, and we can't help but think about all the brave people who are on the front lines right now: they are suffering too. The Pacific Cup Race Committee decided to cancel the race this year in order to keep everyone healthy and safe, although our fearless crew Charles-etienne Devanneaux and Fred Freddy couldn't have made it anyway: Skipper Charlie is recovering from his injur...y, slowly but surely, and we are all grateful for that. The battle against ALS is still going on: there are many "virtual walks" in your area that you can contribute to and if you don't know of any specific one, go to The ALS Association Golden West Chapter where you will find all the info you need to donate. Keep in mind that even $ 5 can make a difference when it is multiplied by many. Stay home, stay safe.

in Mary's memory ... here is a message from John to sponsor the next walk for ALS Aloha A number of Mary’s friends and family have asked me how they should remember Mary; did she have a particular cause or charity for which she was committed. I’m sure her answer to that would be the ALS Association. Shortly following Mary’s diagnosis of her neurodegenerative disorder in 2013, Mary reached out to Hawaii’s ALS community for support, not because she had ALS, but because her d...isease was too rare to have a support network of its own. She was aware her symptomatic decline would be similar to that of ALS. The local support group and the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association accepted us as one of their own providing friendship, support, compassion and care as Mary progressed through the stages of her battle. A member of the Golden West team was by her side as she said her final goodbyes. Each year, Mary would participate in the local ALS walk to fund-raise for their cause. Her last was in a wheelchair. ALS was kind enough to activate Mary’s team page early this year so that it can be used for memorial donations. Those wishing to do so, please sign on to Mary’s HI Heals walk page: http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/GoldenWest and donate whatever you are comfortable with, large or small, in memory of my Mary. I hope you will do so with your name visible, so that Mary’s page is filled with the names of those special to her. But if you chose to donate anonymously, please just drop me an email so I can add it to the tribute record I have created for her. If you are like me, much of your day is consumed working to protect your own health. Please do be cautious and care for yourself, we will all have time to rejoice a return to freedom, socialization, and joy when we get through this. Mary would not want otherwise. With Love John

One of our staunchest and most generous supporters as well as a great friend passed away Saturday. She didn't have ALS : she had been diagnosed with MND which is in the same category of hellish diseases. Mary, and her husband John Patterson, were our friends way before this little group of family and extended family got together to support the efforts of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter after Gilles passed away from the disease. Every year, she and John would welcom...e the Sailing For ALS crew in Oahu with open arms, plenty of delicious food, bottles of wine and always ALWAYS a great big smile! She was fierce, she was fun and she lived her life on her own terms. She will be missed more than we can say. Charles-etienne and Fred, our two intrepid sailors, as well as the entire Galerne clan, are sending our heartfelt condolences to her husband John and her family. I can't help but think Gilles probably popped open a bottle of Champagne to welcome her up there. Aloha Mary! Christine Galerne (photo: Valerie and Mary. July 2019)