I wanted to take a moment and thank so many supporters who have cheered me on as I have begun my second campaign for a Paralympic medal in sailing. Much has happened since last fall, when my new teammate, Mark Lewis, and I began planning a SKUD 18 campaign while I was 9 months pregnant. We had our first regatta last March and we have truly come a long way since then!!

The single most important event thus far was last weekend. When it was over, I knew one important thing – I wasn’t chasing windmills like Don Quixote. We posted a solid silver finish in the single qualifier to make this year’s US Disabled Sailing Team. WE DID IT! We are currently the second ranked team in the country.

When Mark and I decided on the name TEAM Eagle, we chose the eagle as a symbol of both strength and national pride. I can say with certainty that it has taken a good deal of strength over the past few months to reach this point. Practicing on average 2 days a week, traveling 4 hr round trips to Newport to train with the Rhode Island team, the juggling 2 kids in the process, and often having Dan coaching us while the kids ride along in the coach boat.

It has taken a number of efforts from a number of people to pull this off so far -the Eveleth moms who watch our 6 yr old, Ralph Carleton of the Marblehead Boating Center, my folks who care for the kids for a week, the awesome DBMS crew, Harvey Rigging & Chris Small who have fixed broken parts & the keel in short order, the JYC Regatta Committee, the BYC, the undying enthusiasm of the Viper Fleet, my Arts Fest buds’ assistance during Race Week, our training partners Bob & Sarah, the hundreds of miles driven by Mark’s folks, and thanks most of all, to my husband who holds the team & boat together keeping us on our toes, coaching us to be the best. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart!!