Support and Race the Sailing4Parkinson’s Regatta On April 12

We attended the recent Parkinson’s presentation at the Corinthian Yacht Club with one of our regular sailing crew, Tom Woolly, who’s currently managing his own challenges with Parkinson’s. Since we lost both a parent and an uncle to Parkinson’s, we were not really surprised by how many people, either with Parkinson’s or with a close connection, were in attendance. It’s a growing scourge that is impacting far too many.

The presentation was in connection with the Sailing4Parkinson’s Regatta, which is being held on Sunday, April 12, at the Corinthian Yacht Club. The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Parkinson’s Association of Northern California. Both are dedicated to finding a cure and helping those managing the condition, along with the families that are also impacted. The Saturday night gala precedes the Sunday regatta with a dinner, an auction emceed by KPIX Sports broadcaster Vern Glenn, and special presentations by Paul Cayard, JP Conte, Bertrand Delhom and Tan Raffray. Also coming to the event is Don McIntyre, creator of the Ocean Globe Race and the recently completed Mini Globe Race.

We love to race on San Francisco Bay, but it only adds to the reward when you can race for a good cause that will help support so many other sailors. For us, this includes helping our long-term friend Tom, a Bay Area sailor and regular Friday night beer can crew. We asked Tom to share some thoughts. “It is said that with Parkinson’s Disease, exercise is medicine. So, I suppose I was fortunate, when diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 65, that I had a daily exercise habit from 50 years of competitive running and cycling. I am also a lifelong sailor, and for me, Friday night ‘beer can’ races with John on Finistere is my Superfood! Crewing requires all kinds of neuroplasticity and multifunctional activities that mitigate PD symptoms.”

“While they’re supposedly just for fun, the Corinthian Friday races can be exhilarating! With winds that often gust over 25 knots and later die into a dead calm with 4 knots of current, the crew is always engaged. I can see and feel the beneficial neuromuscular activities at work: cognition to understand the course and communicate tactics, all while speaking the language of sailing. I use strength to tack and trim sails and agility to scramble across the deck to the rail and back for tacks and mark roundings. The camaraderie of putting away the boat and enjoying post-race refreshments is a great connection, making me feel very much alive, and [I] can forget about Parkinson’s for a while.”

Who doesn’t love a good April sail on the Bay and helping a good cause? A fundamental way to participate is to join the fleet and sign up to race here. You could also make dinner reservations for the Saturday night gala here. Another option is to join Marquis Yacht Charters for a spectating cruise aboard their 70-ft power yacht. However you decide to participate, you’ll have fun and connect to a great community of sailors who are committed to helping sailors, friends, family and everyone who is facing the challenge of Parkinson’s.

At the Corinthian speaker series, Parkinson’s expert Dr. Ray Dorsey discussed the challenges of Parkinson’s, telling the large crowd the “fastest growing neurological disease in the world” is largely man-made and driven primarily by pesticides such as Paraquat. He suggested the best people can do to help protect themselves is to eat organic and to stay active. Like many of our environmental challenges, it’s a race to make the changes necessary to protect the environment that supports us.

April 11 is World Parkinson’s Day, if you want to help solve the problem of “fastest growing neurological disease in the world,” but can’t get out to sail or join the Gala evening, perhaps there are other events that may suit your calendar and location. 

To be part of the local solution and get out in our beautiful, local environment, sign up for the Sailing4Parkinsons regatta and gala coming on April 11–12.